Tems Wins the Best African Music performance at 67th Grammys, Defeats Burna Boy, Wizkid & Yemi Alade

Tems Wins the Best African Music performance at 67th Grammys
Nigerian music sensation Tems has once again made history, clinching the Best African Music Performance award at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her hit song Love Me Jeje saw off competition from Burna Boy, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, and even American R&B star Chris Brown, who was controversially nominated in the same category.
With this latest victory, Tems now has two Grammy Awards, making her the first Nigerian female artist to achieve this feat. The win has sent waves of excitement across Nigeria and the global music scene, with fans celebrating her groundbreaking achievement.
As Tems took to the stage in Los Angeles to accept her award, she was visibly emotional. “My heart is beating so fast,” she admitted, struggling to catch her breath. In a lighthearted moment, she joked, “I do work out, but it’s not showing up right now,” drawing laughter from the audience.
The 29-year-old singer dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday was just a day away. “Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage. Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday, and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you, Mum, because she has done a lot for me and my brother.”
Love Me Jeje, which pays homage to Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 classic of the same name, has enjoyed massive success, garnering 125 million listens on Spotify and over 21 million views on YouTube.
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This year’s Best African Music Performance category stirred controversy when Chris Brown received a nomination for his song Sensational, which features Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. Many fans and critics questioned whether a non-African artist should be considered for a category designed to recognize African talent.
Despite the debates, Tems’ victory has been widely celebrated. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu congratulated her for bringing “pride” to the country once again, acknowledging her contributions to Afrobeats and global music.
Tems was also nominated in two other categories: Best Global Music Album for her project Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning. Over the years, she has received eight Grammy nominations, further cementing her reputation as a powerhouse in the industry.
Her journey to stardom began in 2018 with her self-produced debut single Mr Rebel. She gained more recognition with Try Me in 2019, but it was her collaboration with Wizkid on Essence that skyrocketed her international fame. The song earned her a Grammy nomination and widespread acclaim.
Since then, Tems has received multiple prestigious awards, including NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and BET Awards. Her influence on the global music industry continues to grow, proving that Afrobeats and Nigerian music are here to stay.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Grammy Awards saw other Nigerian artists in the spotlight. Fans had speculated on whether Davido or Wizkid would take home a Grammy this year. Questions like “Did Davido win a Grammy in 2025?” and “Which Nigerian won a Grammy in 2025?” flooded social media. While Davido and Burna Boy were both nominated, neither secured a win this time.
As the Afrobeats genre continues to dominate the global stage, many are looking forward to seeing how Nigerian artists will perform in the next Grammy cycle. With Tems’ historic win, it’s clear that Nigerian music remains a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
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