For the first time in history, a Nigerian artist has won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance! Tems snagged the award in a category packed with Nigerian heavyweights like Burna Boy and Asake. Her standout track, “Love Me Jeje,” from her debut album Born in the Wild, earned her the win, making her the second-ever recipient of this award, introduced just last year and first claimed by South African star Tyla.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Tems said, “Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team.” She dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday falls on February 3. While Tems made history as the first indigenous African musician to earn an R&B nomination at the Grammys, her hit Burning lost to SZA’s Saturn, and she missed out on the Best Global Music Album award, which went to Matt B and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Born Temilade Openiyi, the 29-year-old now joins the ranks of Burna Boy, who won the Best Global Music Album Grammy in 2021 for Twice As Tall. This marks her second Grammy win—her first came in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance with Future and Drake’s smash hit Wait for U.

The 2025 Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, setting the stage for yet another historic moment for African music.