Tems Shines at Billboard’s Inaugural Global Power Players Event in London
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, continues to make history on the global stage. On Wednesday night, she was honoured at Billboard’s first-ever Global Power Players Event, held at the exclusive Shoreditch House in East London.
Tems was awarded the prestigious Diamond Award, presented by incoming Billboard Africa editor Nkosiyati Khumalo, recognizing her remarkable contributions to music and her impact on the global rise of African sound.
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, the Oscar-nominated artist expressed gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the importance of platforms like Billboard in championing African music:
“Being African and a musician is a whole new world, and I feel like Billboard has been so supportive of not just African music but the whole scene and the culture. This has been a really great honour, especially given that African music is moving to heights that have never been seen before, and Billboard is one of the key players in moving that needle forward.”
Tems was celebrated alongside music legend Sir Elton John, who received the Creators’ Champion Award, and EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi Shami, who was honoured with the Clive Davis Visionary Award – presented by Nigerian rap icon and YBNL label boss Olamide.
The evening also marked the launch of Billboard’s first-ever U.K. Power Players Chart, a new platform spotlighting the most influential figures shaping music across the region.
With this recognition, Tems extends her legacy as the most-awarded African artist in Billboard’s history. Her trailblazing journey continues to inspire a new generation of African musicians breaking into global consciousness. Notably, she became the first Nigerian woman to be honoured at Billboard’s Women In Music Event in 2023.
Read More: Diaspora Vibes: How African Music Unites the Continent and Its Global Communities
