Tems makes history by becoming first African female artist to clinch Diamond single in US

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi (Tems) has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first African female artist to earn an RIAA Diamond-certified single in the United States.

The achievement was recorded through "Wait For U," a collaborative track by American rapper Future, featuring Drake and Tems. The certification was awarded after the single exceeded 10 million certified units in the U.S., meeting the RIAA's Diamond certification threshold.^2

According to global music analytics platform Chart Data, the song has now achieved 11× Platinum certification, representing sales and equivalent units of more than 11 million in the United States. The platform announced the milestone on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating: "US Certifications (@RIAA): Future (@1future) Feat. @Drake & @temsbaby, WAIT FOR U 11x Platinum (11,000,000)."

Tems' achievement marks a significant milestone for African music on the global stage, reflecting the growing international recognition and commercial success of African artists within the U.S. music industry.

NOTES

RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America): The organization responsible for certifying music sales and streaming achievements in the United States.

Diamond Certification: Awarded by the RIAA to singles that achieve at least 10 million certified units through a combination of digital sales and eligible streaming activity.