Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first female Nigerian artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.
This record was propelled by the monumental success of her collaborative single Wait For U, featuring American artists Future and Drake, which has now officially surpassed the 10 million sales mark in the U.S. The track not only achieved commercial dominance but also earned Tems a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, signifying a major leap forward in her international career.
Tems first captured global attention in 2020 with her feature on Wizkid’s hit Essence, a song that broke into the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered multiple Grammy nominations, establishing her as a rising global force. Her influence is further underscored by her status as the first African female artist to accumulate one billion streams on Spotify.
Her expanding global reach is evident in her ongoing 2025–2026 world tour, which commenced on September 28th with planned stops in major international cities such as Salvador, Brazil, and Los Angeles, where she is scheduled to perform at the iconic Dodger Stadium.
Tems’ accomplishment places her in an elite class of Nigerian trailblazers, following in the footsteps of Wizkid, who was the first Nigerian male artist to achieve the same milestone, largely due to his feature on Drake’s One Dance.
Her record-breaking success solidifies her status as a pioneer for African female artists on the world stage. Beyond her commercial triumphs, Tems has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award, reflecting her profound artistic and cultural impact.
