NIGERIAN Afrobeats sensation Tems has won her second Grammy Award with her hit single Love Me JeJe, securing the Best African Musical Performance category. The victory reinforces Nigeria’s growing influence in global music, with the category dominated by Af
robeats stars.
Tems—whose real name is Temilade Openiyi—triumphed over major contenders including Burna Boy, Asake and Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and Chris Brown, who featured Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay in Sensational.
The song has garnered over 20 million views on YouTube, further solidifying its international success.
Emotional tribute in Grammy speech
During the 67th Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Tems delivered an emotional speech, dedicating her award to her mother.
‘Wow, dear God. Thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team. Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday… I just want to thank you ma because she has really done a lot for me and my brother,’ she expressed.
This marks Tems’ second Grammy, following her 2023 win with Drake for Wait for U. She was also nominated this year for Best International Album and Best R&B Song.
Nigerian president and industry leaders react
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu praised Tems for making the nation proud on the world stage.
‘From Africa to Antarctica, Asia to Australia, Europe to the Americas, the Nigerian music industry, particularly Afrobeats, has become a source of national pride, promoting a sense of identity and self-expression while uniting people across borders,” he stated.
Music producer SirBastien (George Irabor), who was previously nominated for a Grammy, echoed this sentiment in an interview with AFP, emphasising the significance of the recognition.
‘These Grammy awards reinforce Nigeria’s reputation as a leading force in music. This recognition attracts more investors and global interest,’ he noted.
Afrobeats’ global breakthrough
The rise of Afrobeats has been remarkable, evolving from the Afrobeat genre pioneered by Fela Kuti in 1970s Lagos. With influences from international hip-hop and R&B, Afrobeats has grown into a global phenomenon, embraced by audiences in Britain, the United States, and beyond.
Titilope Adesanya, director of operations for Africa at Empire Records, highlighted the genre’s increasing global reach.
‘From now, most of the biggest stars in the worl
d want to collaborate with our artists and/or producers,’ she said.
The Best African Musical Performance category was introduced last year, with South Africa’s Tyla winning for her song Water. With Tems’ latest victory, Nigeria continues to lead the charge in bringing Afrobeats to the world stage.
