Raised in Lagos, Temilade “Tems” Openiyi began crafting songs as a teenager before deciding, in 2018, to pursue music full-time, leaving behind a job in digital marketing to share what she calls her spirit with the world. Could her rise to global fame have been preordained? Her Yoruba name fittingly translates to “mine is the crown.”
Tems’ rise was swift and seismic. Breakout EPs and collaborations – most notably Essence with Wizkid and her feature on Drake’s album Certified Lover Boy – built a loyal global following known as the “Rebel Gang” and earned her a place on Barack Obama’s 2020 playlist. Grammy wins followed: Wait for U with Future and Drake in 2023, and her own reimagined hit Love Me JeJe in 2025. Nigerian political figure Peter Obi lauded her success, calling her proof that “Nigeria remains home to the endless flow of talents.”
“Back in the day, the Grammys were definitely an event,” she told Vogue, reflecting on her first appearance at age 27. “I’ve never been in the same place with so many artists in one space before.” In another interview after the win, she highlighted the talent pool of young African artists, saying it felt like “a weird blessing to be someone who inspires someone.”
Critics agree. The Guardian praised her debut album Born in the Wild as “building on a meteoric rise… blending Nigerian musical aesthetics with US soul and R&B.” One fan, posting on Reddit, put it more bluntly: “She’s the reason why Rihanna is starting her album over… She has such a natural style… current queen of rhythm and blues.”
Tems speaks of confidence, heritage, and depth – qualities that resonate with her partnership with OMEGA. The watchmaker’s focus on precision, legacy, and timeless elegance reflects her priorities as an artist: meaningful work over noise, intention over speed. For her, true luxury lies not in excess but in craftsmanship that endures.
Time is intrinsic to both music and watchmaking, and Tems uses it deliberately. She’s taken purposeful pauses between releases, focusing on personal growth and emotional clarity. Her early single, Free Mind, gave voice to inner anxieties; by the time Born in the Wild dropped in 2024, she was confidently crafting anthems of self-possession. The album became a world tour, with a stop in Johannesburg in March 2025. There, local fans witnessed a one-night-only performance of Burning, Damages, Me and U, and her Grammy-winning single as the finale.
The city holds deeper resonance for Tems – she lived in Johannesburg for four years while studying economics at IIE MSA (formerly Monash South Africa) and has spoken of how South African sounds helped shape her musical direction. During her March concert, she reportedly reflected on how the country’s sonic textures influenced her and “taught her a lot.”
In this sense, she shares OMEGA’s philosophy of time as an ally, not an enemy. It is something to work with, not against. It grants space to refine ideas, live authentically, and appreciate the rhythm of one’s own life.
OMEGA, of course, is known for its role in Olympic timing and moon landings. Yet, in partnering with Tems, the brand aligns itself with something just as expansive: the artistry of presence. Now starring in the campaign for the new Aqua Terra 30mm timepiece, Tems brings a new dimension of expressive elegance to the legacy watchmaker. The collaboration is more than marketing – it’s a mutual affirmation of excellence, self-definition, and grace. Every second is a gift, creatively and personally.
In June 2025, Tems joined OMEGA’s “My Little Secret” campaign alongside Ashley Graham and Ariana DeBose, becoming one of a very select group of African artists to represent the Swiss brand globally. OMEGA CEO Raynald Aeschlimann described the Aqua Terra 30mm as “powerful, precise, and stable” – a technical feat with feminine refinement, selected to reflect OMEGA’s evolving ideals. Tems wears it with quiet confidence.
Her sense of style is deeply rooted in culture and self-expression. “I’m really into the details. I’m all about the bling,” she has said, highlighting how Nigerian heritage influences her fashion choices with a unique sense of opulence and identity.
She values individuality just as much. “You should just be who you are… You win, automatically, when you are yourself, no matter what that looks like,” she told Essence.
That ethos extends beyond music. Speaking at the 2025 Met Gala, she encouraged others to immerse themselves in African creativity: “I always encourage people to go to Lagos and Ghana… see how you feel. I think the beauty of Africa is in the creativity, the daily efforts, the looks, the songs, the traditions and the cultures.”
As for what’s next, Tems continues to take her time. From early singles like Free Mind to the bold Born in the Wild project, she has consistently embraced tempo in her evolution. “I try to live in the moment… to remain present and enjoy every experience,” she told Teen Vogue. Her method is measured, artistic intention over industry hype.
It’s a philosophy that echoes OMEGA’s own: time should be marked with intention, and beautiful design should serve the moment as much as the legacy.
A deeper Afro-soul exploration may be on the horizon – Tems has hinted as much. Whatever the next phase, it will be deliberate. As she told The Face, she makes sure she’s “vibing every day” to stay creatively aligned. Moving was the theme of her first EP, and according to Harper’s Bazaar, that motion continues: “Performance-wise, I’m having fun. That’s the key.”
In Tems, we see a rare thing: an African artist who doesn’t chase moments – she makes them timeless. From the streets of Lagos to the Grammy stage and the OMEGA campaign launch in Kyoto, she defines luxury not as wealth or spectacle but as presence, poise, and purpose. Her alliance with OMEGA is not simply a sponsorship – it’s a shared belief in elegance measured in moments, in time lived deliberately, and in legacy built one heartbeat at a time.
