Nigerian music luminary Tems (Temilade Openiyi) is poised to make history at the 2024 Billboard Women In Music Awards as she receives the prestigious Breakthrough Award.
The awards ceremony, scheduled for March 6, 2024 at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, serves as Billboard‘s annual tribute to influential women who have significantly impacted the music industry.
Tems, known for her rapid rise to global prominence since her collaboration with Wizkid on the hit ‘Essence’ in 2020, will join a diverse roster of accomplished artists recognized for shaping the global music landscape.
The honorees include Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX, NewJeans, Luisa Sonza, Young Miko, Maren Morris, Ice Spice, and Victoria Monét.
Billboard’s editorial director, Hannah Karp, expressed excitement about honoring artists who shape culture and inspire women globally. “We are thrilled to honor these influential and dynamic artists who are not only shaping our cultural landscape but also motivating women worldwide to break barriers and chase their dreams,” she commented.
Tems’ remarkable journey includes collaborations with industry giants like Drake, Future, and Beyonce, contributing to her status as a trailblazer in the music scene.
Notable milestones include being the first Nigerian artist to debut at the top of the Billboard HOT 100 with “Wait For You,” achieving the most entries by a Nigerian artist on the charts and holding the record for the highest-charting Afrobeat song with “Essence” until it was surpassed by Rema’s “Calm Down.” Her latest accolade by Billboard adds to this list as she becomes the first Nigerian artist to be bestowed such an honor.
Adding to the anticipation, Tems is also in the running for a Grammy Award on February 4, nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.” The 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, promises to be a celebration of women’s’ exceptional impact on the music industry.