Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has become the first African female artiste to record seven entries on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart.
She reached the milestone after her song, “What You Need,” debuted at No. 93 on this week’s Hot 100, bringing her total chart appearances to seven.
With the achievement, Tems now shares the African record for most Hot 100 entries with fellow Nigerian superstar Burna Boy and South African rock band Seether, who have also recorded seven entries each.
Tems first gained major global chart attention in 2022, when “Future’s Wait For U” featuring Drake and Tems debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking her first appearance at the top of the prestigious chart.
Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, reached the same seven-entry milestone in 2025, driven by a mix of collaborations and solo releases across several years.
His chart run includes “Loved By You with Justin Bieber” in 2021 and his 2022 solo hit “Last Last,” which peaked at No. 44.
● Beyond the charts
Beyond their chart success, Tems and Burna Boy have grown into global cultural figures, appearing at major fashion and entertainment events that rarely feature Nigerian artists.
That influence was on display at the 2023 Met Gala in New York, where both stars became two of the first Nigerian music artistes to walk the red carpet of the exclusive event.
The Met Gala — formally known as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit — is an annual fundraising event for the museum’s Costume Institute and is widely regarded as one of the biggest nights in global fashion. Each year’s theme shapes the style and creative direction of guests’ outfits.
The 2023 edition was themed “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” in honour of the late designer, who worked with fashion houses such as Chanel, Fendi, and Chloé. Lagerfeld died on February 19, 2019, at the age of 85.
At the gala, Burna Boy wore a custom blue-and-black Burberry outfit with a regal finish, while Tems drew attention in a Robert Wun dress styled by Dunsin Wright, with fashion research by Kim Russell.
The event was co-hosted by Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, and featured a guest list of leading figures from film, music, sports and fashion.
Attendance at the Met Gala is tightly controlled, with invitations curated by Vogue. Reports say tickets cost tens of thousands of dollars, while full tables run significantly higher. Proceeds from the event support the Costume Institute, which relies on donations and fundraising.
