…You’ve Made Nigeria Proud, Says Tinubu
By Esi-ife Arogundade
At the 67th Grammy Awards held on February 2, 2025, Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, dedicated her award for Best African Music Performance to her mother.
The rising star won the prestigious accolade for her hit song “Love Me Jeje,” triumphing over a competitive field that included notable artists such as Yemi Alade, Asake, Wizkid, Davido, Lojay, and Burna Boy.
The ceremony, which took place at the Crypto.Com Arena, was filled with emotional highs and artistic celebrations. In her acceptance speech, Tems expressed immense gratitude to God and deeply acknowledged the sacrifices made by her mother.
“Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday, and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you ma because she has really done a lot for me and my brother,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. Tems also extended her appreciation to her team, specifically mentioning her collaborators:
“Muyiwa, Wale, my beautiful stylist, and lovely girls… I love you guys.” She concluded with a powerful message, saying, “To God be the glory. Honestly, He has changed my life so much”.
While Tems celebrated her Grammy win, she was also nominated for Best R&B Song for her collaboration with American artist SZA. Despite a valiant effort, she lost to SZA’s “Saturn,” in a category filled with prominent names such as Muni Long, Coco Jones, and Kehlani.
Nevertheless, her nominations mark a groundbreaking moment for Nigerian music, as it signifies the first time a Nigerian female artist has received a nomination outside the Global Music categories as a lead act.
In 2023, Tems won in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category alongside rapper Future for the song ‘Wait For You.’
READ ALSO: Tems Becomes First Nigerian Female Singer To Win Grammy
Not everyone was satisfied with Tems on social media though.
The singer faced a backlash from a netizen for her acceptance speech for not mentioning or acknowledging Seyi Sodimu and Shafi Bello, the original singers of the song “Love Me Jeje.” Instead, Tems thanked her team including her stylist during the acceptance speech.
A tweep @bros_aik wrote on X: “I think it was a major faux pas for Tems to forget to mention Seyi Sodimu in her Grammy acceptance speech. The song ‘Love Me Jeje’, which won in the Best African Music Performance category, originally belongs to Seyi Sodimu. Tems’ handlers made a big mistake.”
However, President Bola Tinubu congratulated Tems and other Nigerians nominated for the awards.
In his X (formerly Twitter) post on Monday, President Tinubu said he was proud of them.
“Congratulations to @temsbaby on winning the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, ‘Love me jeje,’” the president wrote.
“I am proud of her accomplishments and those of Nigerian origin who were nominated for the Grammy awards. Their achievements continue to inspire all Nigerians. Congratulations!”
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi also congratulated her, the other nominees and the Nigerian entertainment industry. The former governor of Anambra State expressed joy at their achievements.
Co-Grammy nominee Davido also shared congratulatory messages with his colleagues Tems and Chris Brown on their wins.
Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide on social media, praised Tems for being loyal to Nigeria, saying she deserved her latest honour.
Tems has garnered global acclaim since featuring on Wizkid’s 2020 hit single “Essence,” which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her Grammy nomination in 2022.
Known for her unique fusion of Afrobeat and soul, coupled with powerful lyrics that explore themes of freedom and self-identity, Tems continues to be a beacon of resilience and artistic dedication.
With her recent triumph, Tems not only solidifies her position in the music industry but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring artists worldwide.
