Entertainment

TEMS: Stainless, and Noiselessly Breaking Barriers

Published

9 months ago

March 2, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Nigeria’s born music prodigy, Tems, who was born Temilade Openiyi, is nothing short of sensation, a force to reckon with, and if her profile is anything to give by, a clean sheet of zero scandal. Tems is one celebrity singer, whose name only resonates with the positives, and has consciously made herself scarce with any form of bad energy. She is a celebrity worth celebrating.

Born on June 11, 1995, and looking forward to her 30th birthday, Tems, in two short months of 2025, has landed landmark achievements that have left his peers and contemporaries gaping in wonderment.

On February 13, 2025, she landed for the second time in her prolific seven years old professional musical career, the prestigious and dream of every singer, the Grammy Award. She is also an Oscar nominee in singing, songwriting and producing. And only last weekend, narrowly lost out at the Mobo Award to a fellow Nigerian.

At the Grammys, Tems saw off the likes of Yemi Alade, Burna Boy and Wizkid to take home the Best African Music Performance Grammy for her hit Love Me Jeje. The category is running for its second year. Its introduction has been widely acknowledged as a recognition of the impact of African artists on the global music scene.

Aside from the Best African Music Performance, Tems was nominated in two other categories – Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning. Across her career she has now received eight nominations in all.

While making an emotional acceptance speech, she said her “heart was beating so fast”.

The beautiful singer also praised her mother on the Los Angeles stage.

“Wow, dear God thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing this team, and tomorrow is my mum’s birthday and this is her first Grammys.

“I just want to thank you mum,” she said gesturing towards her, “because she has done a lot for me and my brother.”

Love Me Jeje, which samples a line from Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 Nigerian classic of the same name, has racked up 125 million listens on Spotify and 21 million views on YouTube.

The award places Tems on top list of Nigerian to have two Grammys to her name after winning the Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for featuring on Future’s hit Wait For U.

Also in February, the Dowen College, Lagos product, who is also a graduate of a Monash South Africa, for her tertiary education, where she obtained a degree in Economics, joined the San Diego FC ownership group as a club partner ahead of their 2025 MLS expansion season.

While her move makes her the first African woman to own – in part or full – a professional team in the USA, it however, adds to the growing number of African women who are taking ownership roles in clubs outside Africa.

The SDFC chairman, Sir Mohamed Mansour noted in a statement that “We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner.

“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us to reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which of course has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organization.”

Delighted, she took to her Instagram handle to share her excitement about her investment, expressing her deep connection to football.

She wrote: “Hey San Diego, it’s Tems, and I’m so excited to be a part of SDFC. I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and community. Football unites people in a powerful way, and I’m eager to help build something special in San Diego.”

“I have always loved football. Growing up, I watched my brother play with his friends, and I was always intrigued.”

Reports have it that beyond her ownership ambitions, Tems is also committed to developing young football talents through a partnership with Right to Dream Academy, pointing to the parallels between music and sports in providing opportunities for young people.

Following her landmark achievements, celebrated Nigerians, especially politicians, have reached out to her in congratulations. President Bola Tinubu, while commending the singers, said she brought “pride” to the country on the global stage for the “second time”.

Tems took her destiny into her own hands when in 2015, she made up her mind never to listen to any other music while she craft hers so as to have her own distinct originality devoid of sounding like popular celebrity singers. She took more steps towards self production, coming out in 2018 and 2019 with know singers before hitting her album in 2020.

She began making a name for herself in 2018 with the release of her self-produced debut single Mr Rebel.

Tems gained further attention in 2019 with Try Me. Her international profile was boosted after being featured on Wizkid’s song Essence, which earned her several award nominations, including one for a Grammy.

She has received various accolades throughout her career, including multiple NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Music Award and BET Awards.

She however, rose to prominence after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence”, which peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following the release of the remix version with Justin Bieber. The song earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on the song “Fountains” by Canadian rapper Drake.

The Wikipedia captured more of her rise as follows:

“In 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears. Her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place (2021), was released after she signed a record deal with RCA Records. In 2022, Tems’ vocals from her song “Higher” were sampled by Future on his single, “Wait for U”, which led to her being credited as a featured artist alongside Drake on the song. It debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at number one and the second Nigerian artist to top the chart. The song earned her the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Tems covered Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack album in July 2022 and in the same month, her song “Free Mind” from her debut EP debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 46 and breaking the female record for longest charting number one song on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. She also co-wrote and rendered background vocals on the song “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

“In 2024, Tems released her debut studio album Born in the Wild to critical acclaim. The album reached the top thirty in the Netherlands, Switzerland and in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 24. She further embarked on her ongoing Born in the Wild Tour, a supporting world tour. Tems received three nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Album, “Burning” for Best R&B song and won “Love Me JeJe” for Best African Music Performance.”

Throughout her career, Tems has received many accolades, including two Grammy Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, four NAACP Image Awards, four BET Awards and three Soul Train Music Award.

In her seven shirt years in the music industry, Tems has given mean to her name, Temilade, which translates to “the crown is mine”.

A Nigerian of Yoruba origin, Tems relocated with her family to the United Kingdom in her infant days, but returned to Nigeria when she was five years old. She had lived in Ilupeju, Lekki and Ajah.

Tems early beginning was fraught with challenges among which is the bullying she suffered at high school because of her voice. Undeterred, she joined her school choir at 11, and soon began singing in falsetto. It was the sharp eyes of her music teacher that discovered her, and went ahead to coach her towards becoming a voice in piano playing. Tems often practiced singing with her brother, who often accompanied her on guitar.

Tems has not looked back since her first single debuted in 2018, the shenanigans of the Ugandan government against her and Omah Lay in 2020 notwithstanding. She is a role music, who has consistently remained on the winning without stain, and without noise.

Entertainment

Globacom-Sponsored African Voices Changemakers Features BBN Host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2025

Eric

Nigerian media personality and Big Brother Naija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, is the guest on CNN International’s acclaimed magazine show, African Voices, this week. The 30-minute show, sponsored by telecommunications leader, Globacom, gives viewers an in-depth look at Ebuka’s journey and impact.

Born on July 14, 1982, Ebuka first entered the spotlight as a contestant on the inaugural edition of Big Brother Naija in 2006. Since then, he has become the show’s longest-serving host, captivating audiences with his charisma and style.

A Law graduate of the University of Abuja, Ebuka also holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Washington College of Law at American University, Washington, where he specialized in Intellectual Property. Beyond reality TV, he has anchored notable programs including Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television and the Glo Show.

The episode highlights Ebuka’s impressive fashion collaborations with designer Mai Atafo, the cultural stories behind his signature style, and his passionate advocacy for young boys across Nigeria.

The show which runs on Saturday on DSTV Channel 401 at 8:30 a.m. and 12.00 noon is repeated on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. The repeats continue on Monday at 4 on the morning belt and at 6.45 p.m. the same day and at 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday. The edition will be repeated next weekend at the same time slots.

Entertainment

My Character in “Sinnners” Reflects Deep Ancestral Reverence, Connection – Starlet Wunmi Mosaku

Published

6 days ago

November 29, 2025

Eric

By Samantha Ofole-Prince

She received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA) for playing a grieving matriarch in the heartbreaking drama “Damilola, Our Loved Boy.” She captivated audiences as Ruby Baptiste in the horror-drama series “Lovecraft Country” and was the sidekick to Idris Elba’s character in the fifth series of the BBC crime drama “Luther.”

Wunmi Mosaku’s latest role as a spiritual healer and Hoodoo conjurer is earning her rave reviews.

In “Sinners,” the supernatural horror film directed by Ryan Coogler, Mosaku, who is known for her roles in “Loki” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” and the film “His House” is much more than just the estranged wife of Elijah “Smoke” Moore (Michael B. Jordan).

“Annie is Smoke’s protection, his comforter. She’s his mother, his teacher, his friend and his lover,” says the Nigerian-born British actress whose performance has been widely praised for its emotional arc and authenticity. In playing Annie, she steeped herself in research ensuring she not only perfected the Southern American accent required but arduously rehearsed with Jordan as their on-screen relationship is central to the film’s core.

“We had a couple of weeks of rehearsal and shared our story, our lives, our hopes, our dreams, our fears, the things most precious to us. And so, we built a level of trust and openness and safety to really explore that love, that grief, the differences. I think that’s kind of the fastest way to get to trusting your scene partner and being free is just to open up, and that’s what we did.”

An original tale that takes place in a single day, “Sinners” follows identical twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), who return to their Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint. While they plan to start a new life, they soon find themselves battling a group of vampires who attack their establishment, forcing the survivors to learn how to fight and defeat them.

Her character’s expertise in Hoodoo proves crucial in helping her companions tackle the vampires. She provides spiritual and intellectual guidance for the group. It’s a role which also allowed Mosaku, who was born in Zaria, to explore her own heritage as a Hoodoo expert Dr. Yvonne Patricia Chireau, an authority on Africa based religions and spiritual traditions served as a consultant on the film.

“There is this reverence for our people, who we are and where we’re from, and I was excited by the depth and the quality of the writing when I read the script, and I learned so much from Annie. The onset conversations Michael and I had, and those I had with the community, truly inspired me. I hope the film reminds people to stay connected with their ancestors.”

With music, humor, drama, suspense and history, director Ryan Coogler (“Creed,” “Black Panther,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), who also wrote the screenplay, has created a modern cinematic masterpiece.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is a U.S. based journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film

Entertainment

Don Jazzy Names Top 5 All-time Afrobeats Songs, Albums

Published

1 month ago

November 1, 2025

Eric

Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, has unveiled his list of favorite Afrobeats songs and albums, spotlighting the classics that propelled the genre from local streets to international acclaim.

In a RollingStone Africa interview, the producer paid homage to the Mo’ Hits era he co-built with D’Banj, while crediting pioneers who shaped the sound.

His top songs include 2Baba’s African Queen, which he said opened global doors for Afrobeats and Wizkid’s Ojuelegba for its authentic storytelling.

D’Banj’s Fall in Love earned praise as a continental anthem from Mo’ Hits, while 9ice’s Gongo Aso was lauded for blending Yoruba tradition with pop.

Davido’s Aye rounded out the list for its Highlife-infused energy.

For albums, Don Jazzy singled out Wande Coal’s Mushin 2 Mo’Hits, which he produced as a timeless masterpiece.

He also named 2Baba’s Grass 2 Grace, Wizkid’s Superstar, D’Banj’s The Entertainer, and Aṣa’s self-titled debut as foundational works that influenced today’s stars.