Tems Honoured Alongside Elton John at Billboard’s Global Power Players Event in London

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, continues to soar on the global stage, having been 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, making her one of the standout honourees at the high-profile ceremony. She was celebrated alongside British music legend Sir Elton John, who took home the Creators’ Champion Award, and EMPIRE CEO Ghazi Shami, who received the Clive Davis Visionary Award.

The award was presented to Tems by Nkosiyati Khumalo, the incoming editor of Billboard Africa.

“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 in 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.”

Olamide Presents Visionary Award to EMPIRE CEO

In another major highlight of the night, Nigerian rap star and YBNL boss, Olamide, presented the Clive Davis Visionary Award to EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi Shami, in recognition of his contributions to the global music ecosystem.

Billboard U.K. Power Players Chart Debuts

The event also marked the launch of Billboard’s first-ever U.K. Power Players chart, further highlighting influential individuals and organizations shaping the future of global music.

A Historic Milestone for Tems

Tems, who is also Oscar-nominated, has now solidified her legacy as the most-awarded African artist in Billboard’s history. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first Nigerian woman to be honoured at the Billboard Women In Music Event.

With global recognition piling up, Tems continues to redefine the global perception of African music and artistry.