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

Nigerian superstar Tems has shattered yet another glass ceiling, becoming the first female African artist to achieve Diamond-level sales in the United States. The historic milestone marks a defining moment not just for the Lagos-born vocalist, but for the entire African music landscape.

Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, crossed the 10 million units threshold with “Wait For U,” her collaborative smash alongside Future and Drake. This achievement places her in exclusive company as only the second African artist ever to reach Diamond certification from the RIAA—following Wizkid, whose feature on Drake’s “One Dance” earned the distinction in 2022. But unlike her compatriot, Tems stands alone as the first African woman to claim this accolade, cementing her status as the best-selling female African artist in American music history.

This isn’t simply about one massive hit. Tems has built an impressive catalog that includes chart performers like “Essence,” “Free Mind,” “Higher,” “Me & U,” and “Found”—many already certified Platinum or Gold in the States. Her 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary: she made history as the first Nigerian to win two Grammy Awards (including Best African Music Performance for “Love Me Jeje”), broke barriers as the first African woman to join an MLS ownership group with San Diego FC, performed at Aston Martin’s Formula 1 season launch in London, and became the first African female artist to surpass one billion Spotify streams on a single track. From her breakout moment on Wizkid’s “Essence” in 2020 to today’s Diamond achievement, Tems has evolved from rising talent to global powerhouse—and she’s showing no signs of slowing down.

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