Introduction
Tems age is one of the most common questions fans ask about the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer. Born Temilade Openiyi on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria, she is 31 years old as of October 2026. She is known for her smoky, genre-blending voice, which sits between alternative R&B, Afrobeats and soul. She is also known for a run of global collaborations and awards that few artists reach so young.
Many people searching for Tems age also want to know how a former office worker from Lagos became a Grammy and Oscar-nominated name. Part of the answer is timing. She broke through in her mid-twenties, at an age when many artists are still finding their sound. Looking at Tems age alongside her milestones shows how quickly her career moved: a 2018 debut single, a 2022 Grammy-winning feature, and a 2025 Grammy win for her own song.
This article covers her early life, education, career, relationships, estimated wealth, business interests and philanthropy. It is written for readers who want accurate context, not just a number.
Early Life and Family
Tems’s family background shapes much of her music, and it is a natural place to start when exploring Tems age and her journey.
- Birthplace and birth date: Tems was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 11 June 1995. Her Gemini birthday is often cited by fans, and it places Tems age at 31 in 2026.
- Parents: She is widely reported to have a Nigerian mother and a British father. Their names and professions have not been publicly confirmed, and Tems has kept her family largely out of the spotlight.
- Childhood across two countries: According to profile summaries, she spent part of her childhood in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria. That early movement between cultures is often cited as an influence on her style, and it shaped how she experienced Tems age milestones like adolescence and school years.
- Upbringing in Lagos: Her childhood in Nigeria is the emotional backdrop for “Love Me JeJe,” a song she has described as a tribute to her upbringing. In Yoruba, “jeje” roughly means softly or gently.
- Cultural influences: She grew up around Nigerian music and Western R&B and soul, and her sound blends both. Even in the earliest years of Tems age, music was clearly a central interest.
- Siblings and family life: Details about siblings are not widely documented. She has preferred to talk about her inner life and creative growth rather than family specifics.
- Challenges: In interviews and in the framing of her debut album, she has spoken about “mental wilderness,” transformation and self-acceptance. She has described Born in the Wild as a journey from cocoon to butterfly.
Family Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Temilade Openiyi |
| Stage name | Tems |
| Date of birth | 11 June 1995 |
| Birthplace | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Age (October 2026) | 31 |
| Parents | Nigerian mother, British father (reported); names and professions not public |
| Siblings | Not publicly documented |
| Childhood | Part of childhood reportedly spent in the UK before returning to Nigeria |
| Cultural influences | Nigerian music, R&B, soul |
Education
Education is an often-overlooked chapter in discussions of Tems age, because her path to music was not a straight line.
- Schooling in Nigeria: Tems attended school in Lagos. Specific school names have not been prominently documented.
- University studies: She is widely reported to have studied in South Africa, with actuarial science often cited as her field. This is worth verifying against a primary interview before publishing.
- Age at graduation: If the commonly reported timeline is correct, she completed her studies in her early twenties. That fits with Tems age in the years just before she left a conventional job to pursue music.
- A practical background: A numbers-focused degree is unusual for an R&B artist. It reflects the kind of structured thinking she brought to building a career, even as Tems age moved her further from the classroom and closer to the studio.
- Self-taught musicianship: Much of her musical development is described as self-directed. She wrote and recorded early songs on her own while balancing other commitments.
- Extracurricular interests: Singing and songwriting were her main outlets, and the habit of writing from personal experience became the foundation of her lyrics.
Career
Tems age and career progress are closely linked, because most of her biggest achievements arrived in her twenties.
- Career start (2018–2019): She left her job in 2018 to pursue music and released “Mr. Rebel.” In 2019 she released “Looku Looku” and “Try Me,” the latter becoming her first significant hit. Even at this early point, Tems age was young relative to the impact she was making.
- Breakthrough collaborations (2020): She appeared on Khalid’s “Know Your Worth” remix and released “Free Mind.” She also featured on Wizkid’s “Essence,” which became a global crossover hit and earned a Grammy nomination.
- EPs: For Broken Ears (2020) and If Orange Was a Place (2021) established her as an artist with a distinctive voice and a loyal audience.
- Hollywood recognition (2022–2023): She co-wrote “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, performed by Rihanna, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards. At this point, Tems age was 27, making the achievement even more notable.
- Grammy win (2023): She was featured on Future’s “Wait for U” with Drake, which reached number one in the US and won Best Melodic Rap Performance.
- Debut album (2024): Born in the Wild arrived in June 2024 on RCA Records and Since ’93. It is an 18-track project that includes “Love Me JeJe,” “Me & U” and “Burning,” with guests including Asake and J. Cole.
- Born in the Wild World Tour: Her first headlining world tour began in June 2024 in London and ran across Europe, North America, Africa and Australia, with sold-out shows in several cities.
- Second Grammy (2025): At the 67th Grammy Awards, “Love Me JeJe” won Best African Music Performance. Born in the Wild was nominated for Best Global Music Album and “Burning” for Best R&B Song. She became the first Nigerian artist with multiple Grammy wins, a landmark that many fans connect to Tems age and the speed of her rise.
- Recent developments: She released the EP Love Is a Kingdom in 2025, attended the 2025 Met Gala, and received a Billboard honour at the Global Power Players event. In 2026 she earned her first UK number-one single with “Raindance” alongside Dave. She has also said a second studio album is planned for 2026, so Tems age is likely to coincide with another major release year.
Career Timeline Table
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | First single | Released “Mr. Rebel” after leaving her job to pursue music |
| 2019 | Early hits | “Looku Looku” and “Try Me” gain attention |
| 2020 | Breakthrough | Features on Khalid’s “Know Your Worth” remix and Wizkid’s “Essence”; releases For Broken Ears |
| 2021 | Second EP | If Orange Was a Place released |
| 2022 | Global hit | Featured on Future’s “Wait for U” with Drake |
| 2023 | First Grammy; Oscar nomination | Wins Best Melodic Rap Performance; co-writes “Lift Me Up” (Academy Award nomination) |
| 2024 | Debut album | Born in the Wild released; world tour begins |
| 2025 | Second Grammy | “Love Me JeJe” wins Best African Music Performance; Love Is a Kingdom EP released |
| 2026 | UK number one | “Raindance” with Dave tops the UK Singles Chart; second album planned |
Relationships and Controversies
Tems age naturally leads fans to ask about her romantic life, but she has been careful to protect it.
- Marriage and partner: There is no publicly confirmed marriage, and she has not made her relationship status a public talking point. Rumours circulate online, but reliable confirmation is lacking, so it is best to treat them with caution.
- Family life: There is no publicly confirmed information about children. At Tems age 31, she continues to focus visibly on music, touring and recording.
- Rumours: Like many celebrities, she has been the subject of speculation. She has reportedly addressed pregnancy rumours directly in interviews, describing the online reaction as intrusive.
- Controversies: She has not been tied to major scandals. Most public discussion centres on her artistry, collaborations and awards, not on drama.
- Public perception: She is widely seen as private, grounded and artistically serious. Fans often praise her honesty about mental health and growth.
- Respecting boundaries: In a social media climate where Tems age and personal details are searched constantly, her approach of letting the music do the talking has become part of her brand.
Net Worth
Net worth is difficult to verify for any artist, and Tems is no exception. Online figures vary widely, and several older estimates appear outdated given her success since 2023. No verified, authoritative number is available, so the table below describes categories and sources of income rather than a precise total.
- Estimated net worth: Public estimates vary and are unconfirmed. Readers should treat any single figure with caution.
- Music revenue: Streaming, with multiple RIAA certifications including a Gold certification for “Love Me JeJe,” plus record sales and publishing.
- Touring: Her world tour included sold-out shows in several countries, which is typically a major income source for artists.
- Songwriting credits: Her co-writing credit on “Lift Me Up” and her guest features add royalty income.
- Growth over time: Since her 2018 debut, her earning power has likely increased substantially as her profile rose. Tems age and fame have grown together, but exact earnings are private.
Net Worth Table
| Category | Amount/Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated net worth | Not verified; estimates vary widely online |
| Streaming and recordings | Multiple RIAA certifications (including Gold for “Love Me JeJe”) |
| Touring | Headline world tour (2024) with sold-out dates |
| Songwriting and features | “Lift Me Up” co-writer; features on major singles |
| Awards-linked income | Two Grammy wins; Academy Award nomination |
| Assets | Not publicly disclosed |
Other Ventures
Beyond recording, Tems age has coincided with a growing presence in media and fashion.
- Digital presence: She maintains a strong social media following and shares glimpses of her creative process and live performances.
- Live performances and speaking: She has performed on major stages, including Coachella in 2024, and has given interviews discussing creativity, identity and mental wellbeing.
- Label and creative partnerships: Her music is released through RCA Records and Since ’93, which reflects an ongoing business partnership.
- Fashion and events: Attending the 2025 Met Gala highlighted her growing influence in fashion circles.
- Brand collaborations: Specific, verified endorsement details vary by source, so readers should check official announcements for current partnerships.
- Entrepreneurial interests: She has not widely publicised separate business ventures. Her main focus remains music.
Charitable Work
- Philanthropy: Publicly documented, large-scale charitable initiatives specific to Tems are limited in available sources.
- Advocacy through art: Her openness about mental health and self-acceptance in her music and interviews contributes to wider conversations about wellbeing.
- Platform for African artists: Her success has opened doors for other African musicians, and she is often cited as a role model for female artists from the continent. She is also an alumna of Spotify’s EQUAL programme.
- Collaborations: She has worked with a wide range of African and international artists, which helps bring attention to the region’s music scene.
- Impact: Even without a single signature charity, Tems age and achievements make her a visible example for young creatives who want to follow a non-traditional path.
- Looking ahead: Readers should watch official channels for any future philanthropic announcements.
FAQ Section
How old is Tems in 2026?
Tems was born on 11 June 1995, so she is 31 years old as of October 2026. Tems age will increase to 32 on her next birthday in June 2027.
Who is Tems married to / in a relationship with?
There is no publicly confirmed marriage or relationship. She keeps her personal life private, and unverified rumours should be treated carefully.
What is Tems’s net worth?
No verified figure is publicly available. Online estimates vary, and her income comes from streaming, touring, songwriting and features.
What does Tems do for a living?
She is a singer, songwriter and record producer. She is known for Born in the Wild, “Love Me JeJe,” “Free Mind” and her work on “Wait for U” and “Lift Me Up.”
Does Tems have any children?
There is no publicly confirmed information that she has children.
Closing Summary
Tems age may be 31, but her story shows how quickly talent, discipline and authenticity can reshape global music. From a Lagos upbringing to Grammy wins and a UK number one, she keeps proving that staying true to your voice is the strongest strategy.