Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has achieved yet another groundbreaking feat, becoming the first African female artist to feature on a song with over a billion streams on Spotify.
This historic achievement comes after Wait For U, the 2022 hit single by American rapper Future, reached the one billion streaming mark on the platform. The song, which also features Canadian superstar Drake, has enjoyed massive commercial success since its release as part of Future’s chart-topping album I Never Liked You.
Wait For U has been a career-defining record for Tems, propelling her to new heights on the global stage. Upon its release, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Tems the first Nigerian artist to achieve this milestone.
The track also earned her a Grammy award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2023 Grammys, further solidifying her status as one of the most influential African artists of her generation.
With this latest accomplishment, Tems joins an elite group of Nigerian artists who have crossed the billion-stream mark on Spotify. Wizkid first achieved this feat with One Dance, his 2016 collaboration with Drake, while Rema followed suit with the global smash Calm Down, featuring Selena Gomez.
Tems’ inclusion in this prestigious club underscores her growing influence in the global music industry and her ability to captivate audiences worldwide.
Since breaking into the international mainstream in 2020 with her standout contribution to Wizkid’s Essence, Tems has continued her meteoric rise to superstardom. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Beyoncé and Drake, further expanding her global footprint. Her ability to blend Afrobeat, R&B, and soul has set her apart as a unique voice in contemporary music.
Tems also made history as the first Nigerian to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score, thanks to her role in writing Lift Me Up, the lead soundtrack for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, performed by Rihanna.
This achievement marked a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her talent beyond just singing and into the realm of songwriting and film scoring.
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Tems once again broke new ground by becoming the first Nigerian artist to receive a nomination in the R&B category. Her song Love Me Jeje won the award for Best African Song Performance, earning her a second Grammy and further cementing her legacy as one of Africa’s most accomplished artists.
As she continues to set records and push boundaries, Tems remains a trailblazer, inspiring a new generation of African musicians to dream big and aim for global success.
