Nigerian Star Reaches 11x Platinum Milestone With “Wait For U”
Nigerian singer Tems has made history after becoming the first female African artist to achieve a Diamond-certified single from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Her hit collaboration “Wait For U” with Future and Drake has been certified 11x Platinum, representing more than 11 million units sold and streamed in the United States.
The achievement, officially recognised on July 16, makes Temilade Openiyi one of the only African artists to surpass the 10 million-unit mark in the US music market.
Tems Joins Wizkid in Elite African Group
With the milestone, Tems joins Afrobeats superstar Wizkid as one of the few African artists to earn Diamond-level recognition from the RIAA.
Wizkid achieved the honour through his feature on Drake’s 2016 global hit “One Dance”, making Drake the common link between two historic African music achievements.
The accomplishment further highlights the growing influence of Afrobeats and African artists on the global music industry.
“Wait For U” Becomes Global Anthem
Released in April 2022, “Wait For U” quickly became a worldwide success, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track, produced by ATL Jacob and FNZ, features Tems’ vocals built around a sample of her 2020 song “Higher”.
Her emotional delivery helped transform the song into a global anthem, with fans using the track across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to share personal stories of love, heartbreak and resilience.
A Career Filled With Major Achievements
Tems’ rise has been marked by several international milestones.
Her collaboration with Wizkid on “Essence” has earned a 5x Platinum certification, while her solo track “Free Mind” has reached 2x Platinum status in the United States.
She also won a Grammy Award in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her contribution to “Wait For U”.
Chart monitoring platform Chart Data reported that Tems has now surpassed 20.5 million total RIAA-certified units across her catalogue.
A New Era for African Music
For years, critics questioned whether Afrobeats’ global popularity would last.
However, Tems’ latest achievement has strengthened the argument that African music has become a permanent force in international pop culture.
Rather than changing her sound to fit global expectations, Tems has continued to bring audiences into her unique musical style, blending soulful vocals with African influences.
Her Diamond certification represents not only a personal victory but also another major moment for African artists breaking barriers worldwide.
