Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has opened up about her remarkable journey to global fame, revealing that her current accomplishments far surpass anything she imagined back when she worked a regular 9-5 corporate job.
The revelation came during an engaging fan Q&A session on X (formerly Twitter), where the “Burning” crooner responded to questions about her rise in the industry and what she hopes to achieve next.
“I’ve Achieved Beyond My Dreams”
A fan asked, “What are you currently looking forward to? Also would you say you’ve achieved all of your dreams prior to stardom?”
In response, Tems shared a heartfelt message rooted in gratitude and spirituality: “I’m looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store and honestly I’ve achieved beyond my dreams from when I had a 9-5.”
Her words quickly spread across the platform, striking a chord with fans who have followed her transformation from an emerging Lagos talent to a global star.
From Corporate Life to Global Spotlight
Tems, whose full name is Temilade Openiyi, left her role as a digital marketer in 2018 to fully embrace her passion for music. Though the decision came with risks, it eventually changed the course of her career forever.
Her breakthrough moment arrived in 2020 when she featured on Wizkid’s smash hit “Essence,” later joined by Justin Bieber on the remix. The record climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the highest-charting Nigerian songs in history and launching Tems into worldwide recognition.
Breaking Barriers and Winning Big
Since then, Tems has continued to set new milestones for African artists on the international scene.
In 2023, she became the first female Afrobeats artist to secure a Grammy Award after her work on Future’s “Wait for U” won Best Melodic Rap Performance.
She followed up with another historic win at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, earning the Best African Music Performance title for her hit single “Born in the Wild.” The achievement further highlighted the unstoppable rise of Afrobeats on the global music map.