Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, continues to set new records on the global music scene. On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, she was honoured at Billboard’s inaugural Global Power Players Event held at Shoreditch House in East London, receiving the prestigious Diamond Award.
Tems was honoured alongside legendary British singer Sir Elton John and EMPIRE CEO Ghazi Shami, highlighting the global recognition of African talent and creativity. The Diamond Award was presented to her by incoming Billboard Africa editor, Nkosiyati Khumalo.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Tems said:
“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.”
She emphasized the growing global impact of African music, stating:
“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.”
Tems' recognition comes as no surprise to industry observers. She is officially the most-awarded African artist in Billboard history, having previously become the first Nigerian woman to be honoured at Billboard’s Women In Music Event.
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The event also saw Sir Elton John receive the Creators’ Champion Award, while EMPIRE’s Ghazi Shami was honoured with the Clive Davis Visionary Award. Notably, Nigerian music icon Olamide was present and presented Shami’s award, further spotlighting Nigeria’s influence on the global music industry.
In addition to the award ceremony, Billboard launched its first-ever U.K. Power Players chart, underscoring the expanding footprint of the music business in Africa and the diaspora.
Tems' Diamond Award solidifies her place not only as a leading Nigerian music export but also as a powerful figure shaping the future of global music.
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