Nigerian singer Tems wins Best Gospel/Inspirational Award at the 2024 BET

Tems received the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award at the 2024 BET Awards last night.

The singer and songwriter beat out Shirley Caesar (“Award All of the Glory”), Kirk Franklin (“All Things”), Halle Bailey (“Angel”), CeCe Winans (“Come Jesus Come”), Erica Campbell (“Do You Believe in Love?”), Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore (“God Problems”), and Kirk Franklin (“Try Love”) with her song “Me & U.”

Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was brought into the limelight after appearing on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence,” which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the release of a remix featuring Justin Bieber. The song landed her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she appeared on Canadian rapper Drake’s song “Fountains”.

For Broken Ears, Tems’ debut extended play, was released in 2020. Her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place (2021), was released following a record agreement with RCA Records. Future sampled Tems’ voice from her song “Higher” for his single “Wait for U” in 2022, and she was listed as a featured artist with Drake. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African singer and only the second Nigerian musician to do so.

Tems has won numerous awards in her career, including a Grammy, a Billboard Women in Music Award, four NAACP Image Awards, three BET Awards, and three Soul Train Music Awards.

READ ALSO: Tyla wins the BET Awards over Arya Starr and Asake

The Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award is given to urban contemporary gospel artists based on sales and content quality within the eligibility period.

Kirk Franklin currently holds the record with six wins in this category.