Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, a Nigerian singer, has won her first Grammy Award.
Tems won the award in the 2023 ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Her contribution to Future’s smash hit “Wait For U” featuring Drake, got her the award.
The Nigerian received the award for her vocal and lyrical contributions to Future’s mega hit ‘Wait For U,’ which featured Drake and herself, becoming her first Grammy award win after four nominations.
DJ Khaled Featuring Future & SZA (Beautiful); Jack Harlow (First Class); Kendrick Lamar Featuring Blxst & Amanda Reifer (Die Hard); and Latto – Big Energy were also nominated for the category won by Tems.
In a viral social media video, Tems was seen conversing with Roc Nation founder Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé.
The pre-Grammy brunch was held at a private residence in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.
Fellow Nigerian artist, Burna Boy, wasn’t so lucky this time as his hopes of adding another Grammy plaque to his award cabinet was dashed after he lost in two categories.
Burna Boy lost the Best Global Song performance for which ‘Last Last’ was nominated and Best Global Album for which ‘Love, Damini’ was nominated.
Record breaker
At this year’s event in Los Angeles, Beyoncé won a record-breaking 32nd Grammy Award, while Harry Styles won album of the year.
Overall, Beyoncé won four prizes at the ceremony – but missed some of the early presentations after getting stuck in traffic in downtown Los Angeles.
“I’m surprised traffic could stop you,” joked host Trevor Noah. “I thought you travelled through space and time.”
Despite her success, Beyoncé was once again locked out of the coveted album of the year award.
ALSO READ: FULL LIST of Winners, Categories at 2023 Grammy Awards
She has now lost the prize four times, most notably in 2017 when her confessional masterpiece Lemonade was beaten by Adele’s 25.
At the time, Adele used her acceptance speech to say Beyoncé was the more deserving winner (although she held on to the trophy).
This year, Harry Styles took the crown, with Grammy voters recognising the slick, radio-friendly pop of his third record ‘Harry’s House’.
Billed as “music’s biggest night”, the Grammys are the industry’s most prestigious awards.
Sunday’s show was attended by Adele, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z Shania Twain and Stevie Wonder, with performances from Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile.