Her real name is Temilade Openiyi, but the world knows her simply as Tems. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, she has become one of the most important voices in contemporary global music — a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer whose deep, velvet-textured voice crosses every cultural boundary. The Tems biography is not just a story about fame. It is a story about patience, self-belief, and a quiet refusal to sound like anyone else.
In just a few years, Tems went from working a desk job at a digital marketing agency to gracing the stages of the world’s biggest awards shows. She has collaborated with Drake, Beyoncé, Future, Rihanna, and Wizkid. She co-wrote a Golden Globe-nominated song for a Marvel blockbuster. And she became the first Nigerian artist to win multiple Grammy Awards.
Here is everything you need to know.
Quick Facts — Tems
| Full Name | Temilade Openiyi |
| Stage Name | Tems |
| Date of Birth | June 11, 1995 |
| Age (2026) | 30 years old |
| Place of Birth | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian (dual British-Nigerian heritage) |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Record Label | RCA Records / Reset Industries / Human Music |
| Grammy Awards | 2 (Best Melodic Rap Performance 2023; Best African Music Performance 2025) |
| Estimated Net Worth (2026) | $5 million – $8 million (est.) |
| Marital Status | Single (as of 2026) |
Early Life and Education
Tems was born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria, into a family with both Nigerian and British roots. Her father is British-Nigerian and her mother is fully Nigerian, hailing from the southwestern part of the country. The name Temilade is Yoruba and translates beautifully as “the crown is mine” — something that, in hindsight, feels almost prophetic.
Shortly after she was born, her family relocated briefly to the United Kingdom. But when her parents divorced — Tems was only about five years old — she returned to Nigeria with her mother and her older brother. Her father remained in the UK. It was a turning point that shaped much of who she would become: resilient, independent, grounded in her roots.
Growing up, the family moved around Lagos — from Ilupeju to Lekki and later Ajah. Her mother was strict about music at home. As a child, Tems was only permitted to listen to Christian and gospel music. That foundation gave her an ear for soul and emotion — the very qualities that would eventually define her sound.
School Days and a Voice That Stood Out
Tems attended Dowen College in Lekki for her secondary education. It was not always smooth. She has spoken publicly about being bullied in school partly because of her unusually deep, distinctive voice — the same voice that would one day earn her a Grammy. At age 11, she joined the school choir, and a music teacher recognized something special, coaching her and teaching her to play the piano.
At home, she and her brother would practice together — her singing, him on guitar. It was a simple, private world of music that she was not yet ready to share with anyone else.
After secondary school, she enrolled at Monash South Africa University in Johannesburg, where she earned a degree in Economics. Even through her studies, music remained a constant — she spent late nights on YouTube, teaching herself music production and audio engineering from scratch.
Tems Career Journey: From “Mr. Rebel” to Global Stardom
In 2018, Tems made a decision that would change her life. She quit her digital marketing job and went all in on music. No label backing. No industry connections. Just her voice, her laptop, and a lot of self-taught production skills.
On July 18, 2018, she released her debut single “Mr. Rebel” — a song she produced herself. It introduced her to Nigeria’s Alté music scene and planted the first flag. But it was her August 2019 follow-up, “Try Me”, that truly announced her arrival. The track spread across Nigerian radio and digital platforms, earning her thousands of new fans almost overnight.
The Breakthrough: “Essence” with Wizkid
In September 2020, Tems released her debut EP For Broken Ears, which included the standout track “Damages.” But the moment that changed everything came on October 30, 2020, when she was featured on Wizkid’s single “Essence” from his album Made in Lagos.
“Essence” became a slow-burning global phenomenon. After a remix featuring Justin Bieber dropped in 2021, the song climbed to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and earned Tems her first Grammy nomination. The world had officially taken notice.
Key Collaborations and Milestones
The years that followed were a cascade of landmark moments. In 2020, she was also featured alongside Davido on a remix of Khalid’s “Know Your Worth.” Then came “Fountains” with Drake in 2021, which debuted at number 26 on the Hot 100.
In 2022, Future’s single “Wait for U” — which sampled Tems’s song “Higher” and featured Drake — debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Tems the first African artist to appear on a chart-topping Hot 100 debut. The song later won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance in February 2023, making Tems the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy.
That same year, she co-wrote “Lift Me Up” — performed by Rihanna for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. The song earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Tems became the first Nigerian singer nominated in those categories.
In 2024, she released her debut studio album Born in the Wild to critical acclaim. The album reached the top 30 in the UK and several European markets. One track from the album, “Love Me JeJe”, would go on to win her a second Grammy Award — Best African Music Performance — at the 67th Grammy Awards in 2025.
In late 2025, she collaborated with UK rapper Dave on “Raindance” — a viral hit that became her first number one single in the United Kingdom. She also dropped a surprise EP, Love Is A Kingdom, in November 2025.
Tems Net Worth in 2026
As of 2026, Tems’s net worth is conservatively estimated at $5 million to $8 million. This figure reflects her music royalties, streaming income, live performances, brand partnerships, and songwriting credits that span some of the biggest records of the past several years.
Her financial profile has grown sharply since winning her first Grammy in 2023. Brand deals with luxury names including Tommy Hilfiger, Reebok, OMEGA, and Hennessy have significantly boosted her income. Some reports suggest her endorsement portfolio alone generates over $1 million annually.
Her songwriting credits — including contributions to Rihanna’s Oscar-nominated track and Beyoncé’s Renaissance album — also generate ongoing publishing royalties. Combined with the global success of Born in the Wild and continued touring, Tems sits comfortably among Africa’s highest-earning young artists.
Source of Wealth
Tems earns across multiple income streams that have diversified significantly since her early career. Music streaming and digital sales provide a strong foundation — her catalogue, which includes collaborations on some of the most-streamed songs of the last five years, generates consistent royalty income.
Her international touring brings in substantial performance fees, with headline appearances at major festivals and arenas across North America, Europe, and Africa. She also earns from songwriting royalties as a credited co-writer on major projects by global superstars.
Brand endorsements, her music label ventures under Reset Industries and Human Music, and her 2025 investment in San Diego FC as a co-owner round out a growing business portfolio that goes well beyond music.
Personal Life
Tems is famously private about her personal life, and she handles that boundary with grace. She has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship, and as of 2026, she remains single by all credible accounts.
Her closest relationships appear to be with her family — particularly her mother, whose strength she frequently credits as a guiding force in her life, and her brother, who played guitar alongside her as they practiced music together growing up.
Outside of music, Tems has shown a growing interest in fashion, making her debut at the 2023 Met Gala, and in women’s empowerment, often using her platform to speak on behalf of African female artists. She is deeply spiritual and has credited a moment of reading scripture as the turning point that gave her the courage to pursue music seriously.
Controversies
In November 2020, Tems was among a group of artists — including Omah Lay — arrested in Uganda for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols at a concert. The arrest drew widespread condemnation from Nigerian fans, government officials, and industry figures. Both artists were released following intervention from the Nigerian government, and the Ugandan authorities issued a formal apology.
In 2024, unverified rumors circulated on social media suggesting she was pregnant by rapper Future. Tems publicly dismissed the claims as baseless and moved on without further engagement.
Following her Grammy win for “Love Me JeJe” in 2025, some criticism emerged regarding her failure to acknowledge the original songwriter during her acceptance speech. She addressed the matter on social media, publicly thanking Nigerian artist Seyi Sodimu for his cooperation. The matter was resolved without lasting damage to her reputation.
Legacy and Impact
The Tems biography cannot be separated from a larger story: the global rise of African music. She arrived at a moment when Afrobeats was crossing over into the mainstream — but she refused to be boxed into one genre. Her music sits at the intersection of Afrobeats, R&B, neo-soul, and alternative, and that refusal to be categorized is precisely what makes her so compelling.
She is the first African woman to co-own a Major League Soccer team. She is the first Nigerian artist with multiple Grammys. She has appeared on records with some of the biggest names in the history of popular music. And she has done all of it while remaining, by every account, stubbornly, authentically herself.
She was named to Time Magazine’s 100 Next list, received the Breakthrough Award at Billboard’s Women in Music ceremony in 2024, and has won four BET Awards, four NAACP Image Awards, and three Soul Train Music Awards.
For aspiring artists across Nigeria, Africa, and the broader diaspora, Tems represents proof that you do not need to follow anyone else’s script. You just need to trust your voice.
