Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has shared a heartfelt reflection on her meteoric rise, admitting that her current success has far exceeded anything she once dared to dream when she was stuck in a corporate 9-5 job.
The candid revelation came during a lively interactive session with fans on X (formerly Twitter), where the “Burning” singer answered questions about her career trajectory and future aspirations.
“I’ve Achieved Beyond My Dreams”
When a fan directly asked, “What are you currently looking forward to? Also would you say you’ve achieved all of your dreams prior to stardom?”
Tems responded with humility and faith: “I’m looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store and honestly I’ve achieved beyond my dreams from when I had a 9-5.”
The response quickly went viral, resonating with thousands of followers who have watched her transform from an independent artist in Lagos to a global music sensation.
From Corporate Desk to Global Stages
Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, made the life-changing decision to leave her job as a digital marketer in 2018 to pursue music full-time.
The bold move initially came with uncertainty, but it soon proved to be the turning point of her career.
Her big break arrived in 2020 when she featured on Wizkid’s summer anthem “Essence,” alongside Justin Bieber on the remix.
The track soared to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking one of the highest-charting songs by a Nigerian artist in history and introducing Tems to international audiences.
Making History at the Grammys
Since then, Tems has shattered multiple barriers for African music on the world stage.
In 2023, she became the first female Afrobeats artist to win a Grammy Award when her collaboration on Future’s “Wait for U” (which heavily samples her voice) took home Best Melodic Rap Performance.
She cemented her legacy the following year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards by winning the inaugural Best African Music Performance category for her solo hit “Born in the Wild,” further solidifying Afrobeats’ growing influence in global music.
