According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria, Grammy-winning songwriter and singer Temilade Openiyi, globally known as Tems, has achieved a historic milestone in the United States music market. Her massive joint track with American rapper Future and Canadian superstar Drake, “Wait For U,” has officially crossed the threshold of 10 million certified units sold in the US, earning it a prestigious Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
This monumental achievement officially places Tems in an elite class of African artists, joining Afrobeats heavyweight Wizkid as the only musicians from the continent to ever secure an RIAA Diamond plaque. Wizkid previously reached this peak via his legendary guest feature on Drake’s global monster hit “One Dance”. Tems’ latest milestone acts as a testament to her skyrocketing global presence and the absolute commercial viability of modern African music on the biggest global stages.
The extraordinary commercial performance of the track was highlighted by international music intelligence platform Chart Data via its official X account, which stated, “US Certifications (@RIAA): Future (@1future) Feat. @Drake & @temsbaby, WAIT FOR U 11x Platinum (11,000,000)”. Celebrating the massive feat, Vanguard News noted that the singer’s latest accolade marks “another major milestone in Tems’ international career and further underscores the growing global recognition of Nigerian music”.
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This history-making moment firmly positions Tems as an unmatched trailblazer for African women in the international music sphere. Beyond the individual glory, securing a Diamond single proves that streaming and purchasing power for Afrobeats-adjacent collaborations remains extraordinarily potent in the United States. Watch for Tems to leverage this historic momentum to lock in more headline festival slots and massive global brand partnerships as she continues her creative run.
Source: Daily Post Nigeria — https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/18/tems-becomes-first-female-african-artiste-to-earn-diamond-single-in-us/, July 18, 2026
Photo Credit: Billboard
