Tems: The New Queen of Afrobeats | Has She Dethroned Tiwa Savage and Overtaken Yemi Alade?

The Rise of Tems – Afrobeats’ New Queen

Afrobeats has always been a male-dominated battleground, but over the years, powerhouses like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have proven that women can also reign supreme. However, with the meteoric rise of Temilade Openiyi, aka Tems, the game might be changing! 🎤👑

On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Tems made history by winning the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy for a solo song. Her track, ‘Love Me JeJe, outshined competitors like Yemi Alade’s ‘Tomorrow, Asake’s ‘MMS’ (feat. Wizkid), Chris Brown’s ‘Sensational’ (feat. Davido & Lojay), and Burna Boy’s ‘Higher’.

This isn’t her first Grammy moment—she previously won ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ for her contribution to Future’s ‘Wait for U’ (feat. Drake & Tems) in 2023. But with this solo win, Tems has cemented her place at the top of the food chain. 🏆🔥

From Underground Star to Global Icon

Tems’ journey has been nothing short of legendary. Born in Lagos on June 11, 1995, she grew up listening to Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Bob Marley—artists known for their deep, soulful sounds. She wasn’t in a hurry to fit into the mainstream Nigerian pop scene, and that decision made all the difference.

Her breakout track, ‘Try Me’ (2019), became an anthem, introducing fans to her unique mix of Afrobeats, RnB, and soul. But 2020 was the real game-changer—her feature on Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ turned her into a global superstar. The song topped international charts, got a Justin Bieber remix, and became the first Nigerian song to go Platinum in the USA!

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Then came ‘Fountains’ (with Drake) and collaborations with heavyweights like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Future. Tems had officially arrived. 🌎🎶

Has She Dethroned Tiwa Savage & Yemi Alade?

This is the hot debate right now! 🔥

For years, Tiwa Savage has been the undisputed Queen of Afrobeats, dominating with hits like ‘All Over’, ‘Ma Lo’, ‘Koroba’, and collaborations with Brandy, Beyoncé, and Wizkid. Meanwhile, Yemi Alade has carried the Afrobeats flag across Francophone Africa, dropping bangers like ‘Johnny’, ‘Oh My Gosh’, and ‘Baddie’ while bagging awards across the continent.

But Tems is playing on a different level. She is the first female Nigerian solo artist to win a Grammy. She has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world and has a sound that transcends borders.

Does that make her the new Queen of Afrobeats? The fans will decide!