Nigerian Grammy Award winner, singer, and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has been honored with the prestigious Breakthrough Award at the illustrious Billboard Women in Music Gala today.
The music industry’s Billboard Women in Music Gala is highly regarded as a symbol of empowerment and acknowledgment, highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of women in various genres and roles. Its purpose is to promote gender equality and inclusivity in the industry, and the event serves as a stage to recognize pioneers, embrace diversity, and motivate upcoming generations of female artists and professionals in the field.
For Tems, the Breakthrough Award represents a significant milestone in her meteoric rise to stardom, as she’s the first female Nigerian artist to win this prestigious award. From her breakout single “Essence,” which became a global sensation, to her collaborations with acclaimed artists such as Wizkid, Tems has consistently pushed boundaries and defied expectations, establishing herself as a formidable force in the industry.
Accepting the award on stage amidst a sea of applause, Tems dedicated the award to her mom, saying, “I want to dedicate this award to my mom, who is the first woman I ever met. And she really inspired me that no matter what you’re going through, that shouldn’t give you a reason not to champion everybody around you.”
The award ceremony, which coincides with International Women’s Day, adds an extra layer of significance to Tems’ achievement. In the spirit of International Women’s Day, she also said, “I know it’s corny to say, you know, support each other, but it’s true. We don’t have anybody else but ourselves. I mean, it’s the women that’s got the women.”
As she continues to trailblaze her way to the top, Tems remains an inspiration to aspiring artists and a symbol of female empowerment. Her win at the Billboard Women in Music Gala is a testament to her extraordinary talent and hard work and a celebration of the limitless possibilities for women in music.
Congratulations to Tems on this well-deserved honor, and here’s to a future filled with even more extraordinary achievements and milestones!