Nigerian singer Tems has made history at the 67th Grammy Awards, winning Best African Music Performance for her rendition of “Love Me Jeje,” a remake of Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 classic hit. The award, presented at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marks her second Grammy win and cements her status as a trailblazing artist in the African music scene.
The 29-year-old artist beat out strong competition, including tracks by Yemi Alade, Asake, Chris Brown, and Burna Boy. Her victory is particularly significant as she becomes the Nigerian artist with the most Grammy awards to date.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Tems expressed gratitude to God and dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday falls the day after the ceremony. “Wow, dear God. Thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team,” she said.
However, the win was not without controversy. Tems faced criticism for not acknowledging Seyi Sodimu and Shafi Bello, the original artists of “Love Me Jeje,” during her acceptance speech. In a subsequent social media post, she thanked Sodimu for his support in clearing the song sample and bringing the original track “back to life.”
The Grammy win is more than just a personal achievement for Tems. It represents a breakthrough for female singers in Nigeria, who have historically been underrated and faced significant challenges in the music industry. Her success is seen as opening doors for other talented artists who have been held back by systemic barriers.
Tems’ musical journey continues to impress, with this win coming after her previous Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for “Wait For U,” a collaboration with Future and Drake. This year, she received three Grammy nominations, bringing her career total to eight nominations.
Fellow Afrobeats star Davido was quick to congratulate Tems, posting “Congrats Queen!” on social media, highlighting the support and camaraderie within the Nigerian music community.
The Best African Music Performance category, introduced just last year, has quickly become a significant platform for showcasing African musical talent, with Tems following South African artist Tyla, who won in the category’s inaugural year.
