In a groundbreaking achievement that underscores the global dominance of Afrobeats, Nigerian singer-songwriter Temilade Openiyi—known professionally as Tems—has etched her name in the annals of music history.
The 28-year-old artist has become the first female African musician to sell over 10 million units of a single song in the United States, a milestone that places her among the industry’s most elite performers.
The record-breaking track, “Wait For U,” a collaboration with American hip-hop heavyweights Future and Drake, recently crossed the 10-million-unit threshold, according to Chart Data, a leading music analytics platform.
This achievement makes the song eligible for a coveted Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—one of the highest honors in the music industry, reserved for only the most commercially successful recordings.
Tems now joins fellow Nigerian megastar Wizkid as only the second African artist to reach this rarefied air. Wizkid previously achieved the feat with his 2016 collaboration with Drake on “One Dance,” which became a global phenomenon and helped introduce Afrobeats to mainstream Western audiences.
The significance of Tems’ accomplishment extends beyond a single chart milestone. The Lagos-born vocalist has solidified her status as the overall best-selling female African artist in United States history.
Her catalog reads like a masterclass in contemporary Afro-fusion, with multiple hits earning prestigious RIAA certifications. “Essence,” her breakthrough collaboration with Wizkid that became a cultural touchstone, along with solo tracks “Free Mind,” “Higher,” “Me & U,” and “Found,” have all achieved multiple Platinum, Platinum, or Gold status—tangible proof of her consistent commercial appeal.
Her recent single “Love Me Jeje” continues this trajectory, further demonstrating her ability to captivate American audiences while staying true to her Nigerian roots.
The achievement is particularly noteworthy in an industry where African artists—and African women especially—have historically struggled to break through commercial barriers in the United States market. Tems’ success represents not just personal triumph but a watershed moment for African female artists seeking global recognition.
From her humble beginnings in Lagos to gracing stages worldwide and collecting Grammy nominations, Tems has become a standard-bearer for a new generation of African artists who refuse to compromise their sound for Western palatability. Her distinctive voice—soulful, haunting, and unmistakably African—has proven that authenticity and commercial success need not be mutually exclusive.
As the Afrobeats movement continues its unprecedented global expansion, Tems stands at its vanguard, proving that the future of popular music is increasingly being written with an African pen.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tems has made history as the first African artist to sell 10 million units of a single song in the US with “Wait For U,” earning Diamond-eligible status. This milestone, combined with her catalog of Platinum and Gold-certified hits, crowns her as America’s best-selling female African artist ever.
Her success proves African artists—especially women—can achieve the highest levels of commercial success globally while maintaining their authentic sound, marking a pivotal moment for African music on the world stage.
