Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, has made history as the best-selling female African artist ever. Since launching her career in 2018, Tems has surpassed renowned African female artists such as Angelique Kidjo, Tiwa Savage, and Yemi Alade, achieving monumental commercial success. According to available chart data, the Grammy-winning artist has sold over 25 million units worldwide.
Some of Tems’ major certifications include:
- "Essence" certified 5× Platinum in the USA (5 million units)
- "Wait For U" 3× Platinum in the USA (3 million units)
- "Free Mind" 2× Platinum in the USA (2 million units)
- "Higher" Platinum in the USA (1 million units)
Beyond the US, she also holds numerous Platinum and Gold certifications across the UK, Canada, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, and South Africa.
While Tems now leads among African female artists, Algeria’s Cheb Khaled remains the best-selling African artist overall with 81 million units sold, followed by Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid with 75 million units.
This milestone solidifies Tems’ position as a dominant force in African music, reflecting her broad international appeal and commercial success at a young stage in her career.
READ ALSO: Reality TV Star Tacha Slams Nigerian Youths as “Most Cowardly Generation” Over Inactivity in National Development
