Tems Shatters Records: First Nigerian Female Artist to Hit 10 Million US Units!
Tems has made history as the first female Nigerian artist to sell over 10 million units of a single in the U.S. with her Grammy-winning collaboration, “WAIT FOR U.” This monumental achievement, coupled with her recent milestone of one billion Spotify streams, solidifies her as a leading force in the global music scene. Her ongoing world tour further highlights her widespread influence and growing international acclaim.
Nigerian music sensation Temilade Openiyi, widely recognized by her stage name Tems, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, becoming the first female Nigerian artist to sell over 10 million units of a single in the United States. This monumental accomplishment was officially confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Chart Data via X (formerly Twitter), marking a defining moment in her rapidly ascending global career.
The hit track responsible for this historic feat is “WAIT FOR U,” a critically acclaimed collaboration with American rapper Future and Canadian superstar Drake. Beyond its impressive sales figures, the song also earned Tems a prestigious Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, underscoring her profound impact and artistic recognition within the international music industry.
This achievement builds on a series of successes for Tems this year. Earlier, she made headlines by becoming the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, further solidifying her burgeoning dominance in the global music scene. Tems initially rose to international prominence in 2020 following her feature on Wizkid’s chart-topping single “Essence,” which successfully broke into the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered multiple Grammy nominations, introducing her distinctive sound to a wider audience.
Tems' musical journey began in 2018 with the release of her debut single, “Mr Rebel.” Currently, she is captivating fans worldwide on her extensive 2025–2026 world tour, which commenced on September 28. The tour itinerary includes highly anticipated stops in diverse international cities such as Nairobi, Salvador (Brazil), and Los Angeles, where she was slated to perform at the iconic Dodger Stadium. Following a performance in Kenya, Tems expressed her gratitude on X, writing, “Kenya! The love has been insane! I love you so much. Till next time.”
While Tems celebrates this unprecedented success for a female Nigerian artist, it is also noted that Wizkid holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian male artist to reach a similar sales milestone. His collaboration with Drake on “One Dance” was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2022, after exceeding 10 million units in sales in the U.S.