Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, has reflected on her rise to global fame, speaking about her Grammy win, struggles with self-doubt, and her deepening faith in God.
In a recent interview with Angie Martinez, the award-winning artist described her journey as overwhelming yet purposeful, noting that her success has pushed her towards self-awareness and spiritual growth.
“I am definitely not perfect. It solidifies everything that I have been experiencing. It’s like I am on some big adventure,” she said.
Tems, who has won two Grammy Awards, first earned the prestigious honour in 2023 for her contribution to the hit song WAIT FOR U, a collaboration with Future and Drake. She later secured her second Grammy in 2025, winning Best African Music Performance for her song Love Me JeJe from her album Born in the Wild.
Beyond the award, Wait for You has continued to break records. It recently crossed over 10 million units in sales in the United States, making Tems the first Nigerian female artist to achieve such a milestone.
However, the singer said the journey to success was not always easy. She spoke about moments of rejection and how they shaped her mindset long before global recognition came.
“I feel like I had been in my mind rejected so much, that when I found people that finally accepted me, because I was so used to rejecting myself, I couldn’t accept their acceptance,” she said.
According to her, these experiences forced her to confront her fears and become more self-aware, a process she now encourages others to embrace.
“But that’s why I always encourage people to become aware, get curious about this fear that you have,” she added.
Tems also credited her faith as a central force in her journey, describing how moments of uncertainty led her to rely on God.
“Especially in those moments, I couldn’t have thought about it. It was bigger than me and I think that’s actually what led me to God. Because I realised I can’t do it myself, and that was my only solution,” she said.
The singer added that her purpose now goes beyond music, as she sees herself as a source of inspiration to others.
“What I am learning is that I am here not just for myself, but to be an example. Just be a child of God that is deciding to be a light to the world. I know that this is definitely God. I just want to make music.”
Tems first gained widespread attention with her breakout single Try Me in 2019, before achieving international recognition through her feature on Essence with Wizkid. The song became a global hit and earned her a Grammy nomination, introducing her to a wider audience.
Since then, she has gone on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in global music, further cementing her place on the world stage.
