At the first-ever Billboard’s Global Power Players Event, held on Wednesday at Shoreditch House in east London, England, Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, was one of the honorees.
She was honored with Ghazi Shami, the founder and CEO of EMPIRE, and renowned British artist Sir Elton John.
The Diamond Award was given to Tems by Nkosiyati Khumalo, the new editor of Billboard Africa.
“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.
“This has been a really great honor, especially given that that African music is moving to heights that has never been seen before, and Billboard is one of the key players in moving that needle forward,” the Oscar-nominated star stated in her acceptance speech.
Ghazi Shami, the head of EMPIRE, was given the prestigious Clive Davis Visionary Award, while Sir Elton John was given the Creators’ Champion Award.
Olamide, a Nigerian artist and the head of the YNBL label, gave the award to the CEO of EMPIRE.
At the event, the first-ever U.K. Power Players chart was also introduced.
In the history of Billboard, Tems has received the most awards of any African musician. She was honored at the Billboard Women in Music Event last year, making her the first Nigerian woman to receive such a distinction.
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