Nigerian singer Tems made history by becoming the first Nigerian artist to win two Grammy awards. According to the BBC, she won the Best African Music Performance category for her hit song Love Me Jeje, beating other top Nigerian stars like Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, and Wizkid.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Tems thanked God and her mother, who was celebrating her birthday the next day. She joked about being out of breath on stage, saying, “I do work out, but it’s not showing up right now,” which made the audience laugh.
This is only the second year the Grammys have included the Best African Music Performance category, which celebrates the growing influence of African artists worldwide.
However, there was some controversy this year because American R&B star Chris Brown was nominated for his song Sensational, which features Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. Some questioned whether non-African artists should be included in the category.
Tems’ win is a big milestone for Nigerian music. Love Me Jeje, which samples a classic Nigerian song from 1997, has been streamed 125 million times on Spotify and viewed 21 million times on YouTube.
This is Tems’ second Grammy win after she won Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for her feature on Future’s song Wait For U. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu congratulated Tems, saying she has brought pride to Nigeria on the global stage for the second time.
Tems was also nominated in two other categories this year: Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning.
Throughout her career, she has received eight Grammy nominations. She first gained attention in 2018 with her debut single Mr Rebel and rose to international fame after featuring on Wizkid’s hit Essence in 2020. Tems has won many awards, including NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, and BET Awards.
The BBC highlights that Tems’ success is a testament to the growing global influence of African music. Her win not only celebrates her talent but also shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s vibrant music scene.
As African artists continue to break barriers, Tems’ achievements inspire a new generation of musicians and fans worldwide.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8edg700gn4o