Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, continues to shine on the global stage as she was honoured at the inaugural Billboard Global Power Players Event held on Wednesday at Shoreditch House in East London, England.
Tems received the prestigious Diamond Award, presented by incoming Billboard Africa editor Nkosiyati Khumalo, in recognition of her trailblazing role in elevating African music to the world stage.
“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,” Tems said during her acceptance speech.
“This has been a really great honor, 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.”
She was honoured alongside music legend Sir Elton John, who received the Creators’ Champion Award, and EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi Shami, who was presented the Clive Davis Visionary Award by Nigerian rapper and YBNL label boss Olamide.
The event also marked the launch of the first-ever U.K. Power Players Chart, celebrating key figures shaping the music industry in the region.
Tems’ achievement further cements her legacy as a powerhouse in global music. She is currently the most-awarded African artist in Billboard’s history, and in 2023, she became the first Nigerian woman to be honoured at Billboard’s Women in Music event.
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