Nigerian recording artist Temilade Tems Openiyi delivered an emotional speech as she accepted the Best African Music Performance award for her song Love Me Jeje at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.
On stage, an overwhelmed Tems expressed her gratitude, saying, “Wow, dear God. Thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this incredible team. Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday, and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you, Ma, for everything you’ve done for me and my brother. Happy birthday, Mum!”
She continued, “I want to thank my team—Muyiwa, Wale, my amazing stylist, and my lovely girls… I love you all. Thank you so much. To God be the glory. Honestly, He has changed my life in ways I can’t even explain.”
Tems won the Best African Music Performance award with Love Me Jeje, marking her second Grammy win after her first for contributing to Future’s hit single Wait For U.
In a highly competitive field, Love Me Jeje triumphed over songs by other notable artists like Yemi Alade, Asake, Chris Brown (featuring Davido and Lojay), and Burna Boy.
Remarkably, all nominees in this category were Nigerian, underscoring Nigeria’s continued dominance in the global music scene.
This Grammy victory solidifies Tems’ place as one of Africa’s most celebrated global music icons.
The Best African Music Performance category, introduced just last year, was previously awarded to South African artist Tyla for her song Water. Tems’ win further showcases the exceptional talent emerging from the African continent.
The 67th Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday.