Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has opened up about her remarkable rise to global stardom, admitting that her current level of success has far exceeded anything she once imagined while working a regular corporate 9–5 job.
The revelation came during an interactive session with fans on X (Twitter), where the Burning crooner responded to questions about her career and future aspirations.
When one fan asked, “What are you currently looking forward to? Also, would you say you’ve achieved all of your dreams prior to stardom?”
Tems replied with humility and gratitude, saying, “I’m looking forward to whatever the Lord has in store, and honestly, I’ve achieved beyond my dreams from when I had a 9–5.”
Her response quickly went viral, resonating deeply with fans who have followed her journey from a young independent artist in Lagos to a global music force.
Tems quit her job as a digital marketer in 2018 to chase her passion for music full-time. Though the decision came with uncertainty, it ultimately became the turning point of her career.
Her breakout moment arrived in 2020 through her feature on Wizkid’s global hit Essence. The song, later remixed with Justin Bieber, soared to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced her to international audiences.
From there, Tems’ rise became unstoppable. In 2023, she made history as the first female Afrobeats artist to win a Grammy, earning the award for her contribution to Future’s Wait for U.
She followed this with another milestone at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, where she won the inaugural Best African Music Performance category for her solo track Born in the Wild.
