Tems achieves historic US Diamond sales milestone
Tems has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10 million units of a single in the United States.
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The Nigerian singer and songwriter, born Temilade Openiyi, reached the landmark after her Grammy-winning collaboration with Future and Drake, ‘WAIT FOR U’, officially surpassed 10 million sales.
The confirmation came on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, through Chart Data on X.
The track, which earned Tems the Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance, reinforces her growing dominance on the world stage.
This feat follows another groundbreaking moment when she became the first African female artist to cross one billion streams on Spotify.
Tems rose to prominence in 2020 with her feature on Wizkid’s global hit Essence, a record that climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and received multiple Grammy nominations.
She first made her mark in 2018 with her debut single ‘Mr Rebel’, but it is her bold rise since then that has defined her as one of Africa’s most influential voices in contemporary music.
In comparison, Wizkid remains the first Nigerian male artist to cross the same milestone after Drake’s One Dance was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2022. Tems’ latest achievement, however, cements her reputation as a trailblazer for African women in music.
Currently on her 2025–2026 world tour, Tems has been performing across continents, including recent shows in Nairobi and upcoming dates in Salvador and Los Angeles.
She recently shared her gratitude with fans in Kenya, writing on X: “Kenya! The love has been insane! I love you so much. Till next time.”
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Her expanding list of accolades includes BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award. With this historic US Diamond certification, Tems has once again proven her power as a global force.
Source: Read more at vanguardngr.com
