Tems Makes History as First Female African Artist to Hit Diamond-Level Sales in the U.S.

Tems Shatters Glass Ceiling as First African Woman to Reach Diamond Status in the U.S.

History has been made, and her name is Tems. The Nigerian superstar has officially become the first female African artist to cross the 10 million sales threshold in the United States, cementing her place in music history with numbers that put her in direct conversation with the industry’s biggest names.

The achievement comes courtesy of “Wait For U,” her explosive collaboration with Future and Drake that dominated airwaves and streaming platforms alike. With over 10 million units sold, the track now qualifies for the RIAA’s Diamond certification—one of the music industry’s most elusive honors. This makes Temilade Openiyi only the second African artist ever to reach this stratospheric level in America, following Wizkid who earned Diamond status in 2022 for his feature on “One Dance.” Two Nigerians at the top of the mountain, with Tems now holding the door open for every African woman with dreams of global domination.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t a surprise breakthrough or a lucky break. Tems has been building an empire brick by brick, with a catalog that includes certified hits like “Essence,” “Free Mind,” “Higher,” “Me & U,” and “Found”—many of which carry their own Platinum and Gold plaques. All those wins combined have crowned her the best-selling female African artist in U.S. history. Not one of the best. The best. And if 2025 is any indication, she’s just getting warmed up. This year alone, she’s collected two Grammy Awards (including Best African Music Performance for “Love Me Jeje”), becoming the first Nigerian artist to win multiple Grammys. She made headlines as the first African woman to join MLS ownership as a partner with San Diego FC, performed at Aston Martin’s Formula 1 season launch in London, and watched “WAIT FOR U” become the first song by an African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

From her breakout moment on Wizkid’s “Essence” in 2020 to today’s Diamond-level dominance, Tems has transformed from rising star to cultural force. The wave isn’t carrying her anymore—she is the wave.

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