Grammy-winning Nigerian star Tems continues to soar as she was honoured at Billboard’s first-ever Global Power Players Event.
The glamorous ceremony took place on Wednesday night at the trendy Shoreditch House in East London.
The event brought together some of the biggest names in global music. Tems stood tall among legends like Sir Elton John and EMPIRE founder Ghazi Shami, as Billboard celebrated major forces driving creativity and change in the industry.
Tems received the Diamond Award, presented to her by Nkosiyati Khumalo, the incoming editor of Billboard Africa. In her acceptance speech, the Oscar-nominated singer praised the growing presence of African music on the world stage.
“Being African and a musician is a whole new world, and I feel like Billboard has been so supportive of not just African music, but the whole scene and the culture,” Tems said.
“This has been a really great honour, especially given that African music is moving to heights that have never been seen before, and Billboard is one of the key players in moving that needle forward.”
The evening also celebrated Sir Elton John, who received the Creators’ Champion Award, while Ghazi Shami was honoured with the Clive Davis Visionary Award. The award was presented by Nigerian rap star and YBNL boss Olamide, adding more star power to the night.
Another highlight was the official launch of Billboard’s U.K. Power Players chart, a new platform spotlighting influential figures shaping the future of music in the UK and beyond.
This recognition marks another high point in Tems’ career. She is the most-awarded African artist in Billboard history and, earlier in 2024, became the first Nigerian woman honoured at Billboard’s Women in Music gala.
