Tems emerged from the Nigerian alternative scene to become one of the most sought-after voices in global music, a singer, songwriter and producer whose smoky tone and writing credits have connected her to Rihanna, Beyoncé, Drake and Future. In a few short years she moved from Lagos breakout to Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated songwriter.
What set her apart was tone and restraint, a smoky, unhurried voice in a genre built on up-tempo energy. That singularity turned her into a bridge between Nigerian music and the American mainstream. Her success widened the space for alternative, women-led sounds within African pop.
Born Temilade Openiyi on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, she is credited as a defining artist of the new wave of Nigerian music that reaches well beyond the dancefloor. This profile keeps her musical record separate from unverified claims and treats her net worth as an estimate.
Key facts
Full name
Temilade Openiyi
Stage name
Tems
Date of birth
11 June 1995
Age (2026)
31
Birthplace
Lagos, Nigeria
Occupation
Singer, songwriter, producer
Debut album
Born in the Wild (2024)
Background and family
Tems was born on 11 June 1995 in Lagos and spent part of her childhood abroad before returning to Nigeria. She came up through the country’s alternative and R&B-leaning scene rather than the mainstream Afrobeats machine, teaching herself production and building a distinctive sound around her low, textured voice. She keeps her private life largely out of public discussion, and reports she has not confirmed are best treated with caution.
Career timeline
Tems drew attention with early singles including “Try Me” and the EP For Broken Ears, and her international breakthrough came through her feature on Wizkid’s “Essence” (2020), the song widely credited with helping break Afrobeats into the US mainstream. Her writing and vocal work then took her into the highest tier of global pop: she co-wrote and featured on Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, which received an Academy Award nomination, and featured on Future’s “Wait for U”, which won a Grammy.
She released her debut studio album, Born in the Wild, in 2024, consolidating her transition from breakout feature artist to a headline name in her own right, and has continued to work across both African and Western pop at the top level.
Selected works
Year
Release
Note
2020
For Broken Ears (EP); “Essence” (with Wizkid)
Breakthrough
2022
“Wait for U” (with Future)
Grammy-winning collaboration
2022
“Lift Me Up” (Wakanda Forever)
Co-writer; Oscar-nominated
2024
Born in the Wild (album)
Debut studio album
Awards and honours
Grammy Award recognition through her featured work, and further nominations for her own music
Academy Award nomination as a co-writer of “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Widely regarded as one of the defining voices of the new wave of Nigerian music
Business interests and reported net worth
Tems earns from recording, songwriting royalties, touring and brand partnerships, with her writing credits for major global stars an unusually strong income base for an artist at her career stage. No verified figure for her net worth is public; online estimates vary and should be treated as indicative rather than confirmed.
Sound and style
Tems has one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music, a deep, husky, soulful instrument that sits between alternative R&B and Afro-fusion. Her writing is introspective and her delivery unhurried, a contrast to the up-tempo mainstream of Afrobeats.
That singular tone has made her one of the most sought-after collaborators in global pop.
Career at a glance
Emerged with early singles including “Try Me” and “Damages”
Featured on Wizkid’s worldwide hit “Essence”
Co-wrote and featured on “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther sequel, earning an Oscar nomination
Won a Grammy for her feature on Future’s “Wait for U”
Released her debut album Born in the Wild
Collaborated with Beyoncé, Drake, Rihanna and other global stars
Legacy and influence
Tems has become the leading female voice of the Afrobeats generation and a bridge between Nigerian music and the American mainstream as both singer and songwriter.
Her success has expanded the space for alternative, women-led sounds within a genre long dominated by up-tempo male stars.
Questions readers ask
What is Tems best known for? Her feature on Wizkid’s “Essence”, her Grammy-winning work on Future’s “Wait for U”, and co-writing Rihanna’s Oscar-nominated “Lift Me Up”.
Has she released an album? Yes, her debut studio album Born in the Wild arrived in 2024.
Is her net worth confirmed? No. Online estimates vary; there is no verified personal figure.
How many Grammys has Tems won? She has won multiple Grammys, including for her feature on Future’s “Wait for U” and for her own work, and was Oscar-nominated for co-writing “Lift Me Up”.
Conclusion
Tems emerged as one of the most distinctive voices of the Afrobeats generation, immediately recognisable for her deep, husky tone. Her soulful, introspective sound set her apart from the up-tempo mainstream that dominates the genre. That singularity quickly made her one of the most sought-after collaborators in global pop.
She has succeeded as both a performer in her own right and an in-demand songwriter for others. Her work bridging Nigerian music and the American mainstream earned her Grammy recognition and an Oscar nomination for her writing. Few artists from the continent have crossed over on the strength of songwriting in quite the same way.
Still relatively early in her career, Tems has already widened the space for alternative, women-led sounds within African pop. Her collaborations with some of the biggest names in global music have raised her profile still further. Her trajectory suggests that her most significant work may still lie ahead.
References
Grammy Awards and Academy Awards nomination records
Official chart and streaming data for “Essence” and Born in the Wild
Max Adeyemi is a Lagos-based writer covering Nigerian and African entertainment, sport, business, and culture. He has spent over a decade tracking the careers, controversies, and quiet achievements of the people who move the culture. He writes all profiles on Nolly.
