•Two winners make the country proud
Significantly, Temilade Openiyi, 29, better known by her stage name Tems, became the first Nigerian performer to win two Grammy awards following her triumph, on February 2, in the Best African Music Performance category for her hit “Love Me Jeje.” The category was introduced last year. She won her first Grammy two years ago. The highly regarded and internationally prestigious Grammy Award is given for “outstanding achievements in the music industry.”
Her winning song, which samples a line from Nigerian singer Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 song of the same title, was reported to have racked up 125 million listens on Spotify and 21 million views on YouTube. She upstaged other Nigerians as her song was rated above Yemi Alade’s “Tomorrow,” Asake’s “MMS,” Chris Brown’s “Sensational” (featuring Davido & Lojay), and Burna Boy’s “Higher.”
The dominance of Nigerian performers in the category this year demonstrated the impact of the country’s artistes on the global music scene. In a statement congratulating Tems, President Bola Tinubu noted that “the Nigerian music industry, particularly Afrobeats, has become a source of national pride.”
Before her success at the 67th annual Grammy Awards, in Los Angeles, USA, she came out tops in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category at the 65th edition, in February 2023, for her contribution to American rapper Future’s hit song “Wait For U,” which also features Canadian rapper Drake. Future praised her “amazing” voice.
Her latest Grammy award was further tribute to her professional focus and enterprise. Her genres are R&B/Soul, Afropop and Afrobeats. It has been a remarkable rise for an artiste who entered the music industry in 2018. Getting the music award considered the biggest globally, after five years, spoke volumes about her musical talent.
After her secondary education at Dowen College, Lagos, she studied Economics at Monash South Africa, a university in Johannesburg. This background was not supposed to prepare her for music. “Anything that I’m doing with music to me is rebellious because it wasn’t expected of me,” she said. According to her, she stopped listening to other artistes in her teenage years in order to find her own identity.
In 2018, she quit a job in digital marketing in Nigeria, after about six months, to pursue her passion. After learning self-production techniques on YouTube, that same year she released her debut single, “Mr Rebel,” a song she produced by herself, announcing the arrival of a new Nigerian musical talent on the world stage. This demonstrated her focus and drive. Indeed, she attracted fans who became known as The Rebel Gang.
Her participation in fellow Nigerian artiste Wizkid’s 2020 single, “Essence,” gave a boost to her profile as the remixed version of the song reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Another Nigerian, Seni Saraki, also made the headlines after winning his first Grammy at the 67th edition. His contribution to the “Bob Marley: One Love” soundtrack brought him glory in the Best Reggae Album category. “Bob Marley: One Love” is a biographical film depicting the life of the reggae icon and his journey to fame. The soundtrack was released by Tuff Gong and Island Records in February 2024. The 17-track soundtrack features fresh interpretations of Marley’s legendary songs.
Saraki, who played a role in the production, thanked “all the amazing artistes, producers, and engineers brave enough to take on this project. Bob Marley is a legacy—an incredible, iconic artist.” He added: “For them to take on these songs, reinterpret them, and make them their own… they’re all incredible artists.” Nigerian artistes Wizkid and Bloody Civilian were notably involved in the project.
A graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, he co-founded The NATIVE in 2016, a platform showcasing African youth culture. His first major industry recognition was in 2023 when the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack, a project he worked on as a music consultant, got four Grammy nominations. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a 2022 American film based on Marvel Comics.
We congratulate the two winners. Their success stories are good for the country’s image. They are inspiring and convey a strong message of positive possibilities for Nigerians.
