Temilade Openiyi, who goes by the name Tems, was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 11th July 1996. She is an afrobeat and R&B artist who has worked her way to the top of the Alté music genre. Brought up by a single parent, Tems had a humble and uncomplicated childhood. She started her musical journey at a tender age after she found her hidden talent when she was a part of her church’s choir.
After her early primary education years in Lagos, she proceeded to secondary school at Dowen College in Lekki. After she had completed her SSCE, she decided to take up Economics at one of the universities in South Africa.
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Tem rose in the music industry with the release of her first solo single titled “Mr Rebel”, a song which she produced on her own. Her track, “Try Me,” drew the attention of the Nigerian music industry. However, in 2020, she maintained her status as an Afrobeats favorite, and she released her debut, “For Broken Ears,” which made news among millions of admirers in Nigeria and elsewhere. More importantly, Tems’ two Billboard Hot 100 hits demonstrate her music’s international appeal. The first one was for her collaboration with Wizkid on the hit single “Essence,” and the second one was her feature on “Fountains,” one of the tracks on Drake’s album “Certified Lover Boy,” among others, where she blended Afrobeats, R&B, and Alté to give continuity.
Tems Early Life
Tems is the second-born child, but there is an older brother in the family. After a year, she was born, and her family relocated to the United Kingdom. Sadly, things took a different turn when her parents parted ways. Consequently, she and her brother had to go live with their mother back in Nigeria. At the same time, her father was in the UK. On their first coming back to Nigeria, their house was in Ilupeju, but they moved to the Island and also lived in Lekki and Ajah. So, she had a rather privileged upbringing.
Tems hails from a Christian family background. Indeed, she got a lot of gospel music in her childhood due to her mother. On the other hand, with time, she started getting interested in other music genres. This paved the way for songs by superstars like Aaliyah, Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, and Destiny Child. While she was still in high school, her music teacher realized she was not only good at music but also naturally talented in musical instruments. In her teenage years, she learned how to play the piano and guitar.
Tems Education
Tems was in a primary school in the UK for only a little while. Upon going back to Nigeria, she attended a high-rated primary school for her elementary education. She got her high school education at Dowen College, Lekki, and upon graduation, she scored good grades. During her university education, she attended a university in South Africa.
Personal Life
Tems is a top five female superstar in Nigeria and is considered among other female leading artists like Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, and Simi. The singer was only five years old when her parents got divorced. And she keeps frequently in touch with her mother and brother. While she is not in the studio writing or performing at gigs, she prefers to spend time in her apartment or visit her mother’s home. Tems was a corporate worker before she quit to focus on music entirely.
It is not confirmed that Tems is in a relationship with Wizkid. Nevertheless, she is still single. And we don’t know anything about her exes as she preferred to keep this kind of information private.
Career and Achievements
Her passion for music can be traced back to her childhood days when she was learning piano and guitar in school. Her music path began when she joined a local choir and started recording songs with them. Afterwards, she took a bold move and released her first single, “Mr. Rebel”, which she self-produced back in 2018. Notably, her performance on ‘Know Your Worth,’ which features Davido, Khalid, and Disclosure, and being on Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ feature caught her a Grammy nomination.
Tems shone further through her collaboration with Future on the track ‘Wait For You,’ where she became the first artist from Africa to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. She has been nominated for multiple awards, such as BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award, due to the widespread popularity of her songs namely “Try Me“, “Damage“, “Crazy Things“, and more.
Five times, Tems has written history in the music industry
The well-known Nigerian artist by the name ‘Tems’, who also is called Temilade Openiyi, has recently obtained a Grammy Award on the record of her incredible career in the music field. The attainment of this award creates a historical moment in Tem’s story as she becomes the first female Nigerian musician to bring a Grammy win in the ‘Best Melodic Rap’ performance Songwriters category. She obtained the credits for playing a role in the popular song ‘Wait for U’ by Future featuring Drake, which was released in 2022.
In this historical milestone, Tems stomped the facts and became the first-ever Nigerian artiste to be nominated for an Oscar. But this was her moment to shine; collaboration on ‘Lift Me,’ the track which highlighted in the movie ‘Wakanda Forever,’ gave her respect for her versatility and ability to take on major projects.
Tems broke through the barrier by seizing a spot at the BET Awards, which she won in 2022. Mating not only occurred between individuals from neighboring prefectures but also from distant ones, forming large networks that spanned across the entire archipelago.
Not to underscore her success story, but the Billboard charts signified a new beginning for the R&B crooner. Tems holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian musician ever to reach the topmost position on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, with the hit song ‘Wait For U’, which she featured together with Future in 2022. This milestone not only confirmed her talent but also gave her an easily recognizable international identity. The scent of one-millionth of a meter is called a nanometer.
Tems is remarkable in that she topped the Billboard US Afrobeat song charts and had her song placed in various popular movie and TV scenes. As part of an unprecedented event, her single ‘Free Mind’ debuted at No.1. This is the first case that turned it green for a female artist who has no featured collaborations in 2022. To achieve such goals is enough to highlight the artist’s unique qualities and ability to bring innovation into the African music industry.
Tems’s music profession is also characterized by signs of innovation, an aspect that makes her an architect/designer and also a source of inspiration for some freshmen musicians in and outside Nigeria.
Tems Net Worth
Tems’s growth and fame have been so amazing. This article will give you the relevant information if you are among the people looking for Tems’ net worth. Tems’s net worth is approximately $1.5 million.
Relationship Status
No explicit information about her personal relationship situations has been discussed by Temi, but an individual known as Dubby claimed that she is his ex-girlfriend and blamed Temi for infidelity with her best friend, which Temi denied.
FAQ
Who is Tems?
A Nigerian singer who has written and produced songs like “Mr Rebel” and “Crazy Things”.
What is the real name of Tems?
Temilade Openiyi.
Where is Tems from?
Lagos, Nigeria.
Which college did Tems graduate from?
Dowen College in Lekki and Monash South Africa University.
What is Tems’ age?
As of January 2024, she is 28.
How tall is Tems?
Her height is 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm).
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