Tems Makes History With 1 Billion Streams On Spotify

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first female African artiste to have a song surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. This milestone was achieved through her collaboration with Future and Drake on the track WAIT FOR U, which samples her 2020 song HIGHER. Released in May 2022, WAIT FOR U debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making Tems the first African artist to debut atop this chart. The song also won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Beyond this achievement, Tems has garnered significant success across her discography. As of February 2025, she has amassed over 3.3 billion total streams on Spotify. Her top tracks include ESSENCE with Wizkid, which has over 281 million streams; FREE MIND with over 203 million streams; and FOUNTAINS with Drake, accumulating over 189 million streams. Her song HIGHER sampled in WAIT FOR U, has garnered over 179 million streams.

Tems’ rise to international prominence began with her feature on Wizkid’s 2020 hit Essence, which received global acclaim and expanded her audience. She has since collaborated with notable artistes such as Beyoncé on MOVE from the album Renaissance and Rihanna on Lift Me Up for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. These collaborations have further solidified her status as a leading figure in the global music scene.

Her unique blend of Afrobeat, R&B, and soulful melodies continues to captivate audiences worldwide, marking her as a trailblazer for African artistes on the global stage.