Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, has cemented her status as one of Africa’s most successful international music exports, becoming the first African female artist to chart seven songs on the prestigious U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The 29-year-old artist reached the milestone this week when her track “What You Need” made a surprise debut at No. 93 on the chart, marking her seventh career entry. The achievement places Tems in rarefied air alongside her compatriot Burna Boy and South African rock group Seether, who is the only African artist to reach this benchmark.
For Tems, whose soulful vocals and genre-blending sound have captivated audiences worldwide, the latest chart entry represents another chapter in a meteoric rise that has redefined what’s possible for African artists on the global stage.
The singer first burst onto the American mainstream in 2020 with her feature on Wizkid’s “Essence,” which became a sleeper hit and introduced her distinctive voice to millions of listeners. But it was in 2022 that Tems truly made history, becoming the first African artist ever to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Wait For U,” her collaboration with Future and Drake. That landmark achievement shattered a glass ceiling and signaled a new era for African music in the American market.
Now, sources close to the artist suggest Tems may not hold the tie with Burna Boy and Seether for long. Industry insiders anticipate that “Bunce Road Blues,” J. Cole’s latest track featuring both Tems and Future, is virtually guaranteed to debut on next week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart. Should that prediction hold, the Nigerian singer would stand alone as the African artist with the most Hot 100 entries in history.
The trajectory is particularly remarkable given that Tems only began releasing music professionally in 2018. Her ascent speaks to both her undeniable talent and the growing appetite for African music in global markets—a trend that has seen Afrobeats and related genres gain unprecedented traction in the United States and beyond.
As Tems continues to rack up accolades—including her 2023 Grammy win and collaborations with some of the biggest names in music—she has become not just a chart success story but a symbol of Africa’s cultural renaissance on the world stage.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tems has become the first African woman to chart seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100, matching the continental record held by Burna Boy and Seether. She’s expected to break this tie next week with J. Cole’s “Bunce Road Blues,” which would make her the most successful African artist in Hot 100 history.
Her journey from debuting at No. 1 in 2022 with “Wait For U” to now standing on the brink of this record underscores her role as a trailblazer reshaping global perceptions of African music and cementing Nigeria’s position at the forefront of the industry’s international expansion.
