Nigerian singer-songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history by becoming the first female African artist to earn a Diamond-certified single in the United States, marking another major milestone in the global rise of African music.
The achievement follows the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)’s certification of Wait For U her collaborative hit with American rap stars Future and Drake as Diamond after surpassing 10 million units in sales and streaming equivalents across the United States.
The certification places Tems among an elite group of international artists whose songs have reached the coveted Diamond status, one of the highest commercial recognitions in the American music industry.
Global music tracking platform Chart Data disclosed that Wait For U has now sold more than 11 million units in the U.S., exceeding the threshold required for the prestigious certification.
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In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, the platform announced: “US Certifications (@RIAA): Future Feat. @Drake & @temsbaby, WAIT FOR U 11x Platinum (11,000,000).”
The recognition further cements Tems’ reputation as one of Africa’s most successful contemporary artists and underscores her growing influence on the international music scene.
Released as part of Future’s album I Never Liked You, Wait For U samples Tems’ 2020 song Higher and quickly became a commercial and critical success, topping charts and earning widespread acclaim.
The song also won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, further elevating Tems’ global profile and introducing her distinctive vocals to a wider international audience.
With the latest certification, Tems joins Nigerian superstar Wizkid as the only African artists to have earned a Diamond single in the United States.
Wizkid became the first African artist to receive the honour through his collaboration with Drake on the global hit One Dance, which also achieved RIAA Diamond status after exceeding 10 million units in sales.
Tems’ latest accomplishment adds to a growing list of career milestones that have established her as one of Nigeria’s leading music exports.
Over the past few years, the singer has enjoyed remarkable international success through collaborations with some of the world’s biggest artists, alongside solo projects that have earned her multiple awards and global recognition.
Industry observers say the achievement reflects the increasing global acceptance of Afrobeats and African music, which continues to dominate streaming platforms, international charts and major award ceremonies.
For Tems, the Diamond certification represents another landmark moment in a career that has steadily broken barriers for African women in the global music industry, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as one of the world’s leading exporters of musical talent.

