The “Love me Jeje” remake captures the enduring power and impact of an outstanding Afrobeats composition that resonates with an unpretentious plea.
Earlier this year when Tems was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 67th Grammy Awards, no one knew for sure if she would triumph in that keenly competitive group. Still, she was a formidable contender. Eventually, she earned a historic win for her gender and the global culture of Afrobeats.
An acclaimed symbol in Afrobeats’ contemporary metropolis, Tems has remained unassuming even after she made history as the first Nigerian Afrobeats singer to own more than a single Grammy. She is still that self-effacing personality that featured on Wizkid’s hit, “Essence,” a song that steadied her in the limelight and called the attention of many to her budding fame and imminent global stardom.
“Tems and I created magic,” Wizkid, a fellow Nigerian Grammy Award winner remarked after he and Tems recorded “Essence” in 2020. While many fans of the superstar musician overlooked the tweet as a pedestrian remark, Wizkid had that magical sensation the song was destined for greatness in a number of ways. His comment, made on February 23, prior to his album’s October release date, hinted that a tidal wave of fairytale success was about to knock on the door. And knock it did!
Not too long afterward, “Essence” would go on to capture the imagination of Afrobeats fans across the world, winning accolades across boundaries, including a prestigious RIAA Platinum certification in America in the aftermath of sales in excess of four million pieces. It also earned a Grammy nomination and a BET Award.
Furthermore, the song caught the attention of Justin Bieber, who featured on a new cut of the track. This collaboration also placed Tems’ talents and hard work in the direction of global acclaim. It will remain hard-hitting to reckon with “Essence” without recognizing the central place of Tems’ recording value on the song’s original arrangement.
Born Temilade Openiyi on June 11, 1995, Tems is recognized as a significant empress in Afrobeats international identity. Her global fame has earned her talking points in a keenly competitive and packed game. Her delightful voice is the most audible feature that defines her musical distinctiveness. Tems is adept at vocal variations. Her tonal inflections often capture the soul of her lyrics, adding an intense frame of mind to her several compositions.
It will remain uncharitable to profile Tems without returning to her brilliant performance with Wizkid. She was heart and soul in Wizkid’s song, laying claim to verses in elegant bits, never lingering in the shadows of that great and enduring Afrobeats track. Her vocal enchantment, carried in a measured and charming voice, captured the essence of the song’s lyrics and intent, adding a sensory cover to the collaboration.
Overall, she made intense love to the song, bonding tone and technique with lyrics to create a lucid Afrobeats experience. Her passionate commitment to the track’s success further enhanced its broad appeal. In the end, it was easy for local fans to fall in love with the track and its color-laden video.
And when the song exploded internationally, the gifted singer was in the party too, sharing in the global recognition that “Essence” received. It was an obvious sign of great things to come from her deep bag of musical endowments.
Her singing stood out on the track, setting off Wizkid’s foretold magic in the first verse with a soul-stirring voice that echoed effortlessly in what became one of Wizkid’s most recognizable compositions. Her verses and skillful singing of the song’s chorus greatly expanded the track’s listening appeal, adding a profound mood and romantic blend to the delivery. Tems’s appearance on Wizkid’s Made in Lagos album was down to her ingrained capacity for brilliant singing as reflected in her individual recognitions and 2024 debut album, Born in the Wild.
Tems has been recognized by prestigious individuals and organizations in Nigeria and abroad. She holds a 2023 and 2025 Grammy, alongside multiple NAACP, BET, and Soul Train Awards. In addition to a Golden Globe nomination, she is also an Academy Award nominee.
A giant of Afrobeats, Tems thrives on a composed self-confident power, a keen awareness of the influence of her personality and prodigious talents. Never really flaunting the muscles in her voice in social media outbursts, Tems is ever-present, earning decent references when discussions about royals of Afrobeats are elicited whether in her homeland or further across its borders.
Tems’ Grammy triumph with the “Love me Jeje” performance, which is a re-creation of Seyi Shodimu’s 1997 roaring hit of the same title, mirrors remarkable good taste and the ingrained quintessence of her versatile talents. It is a reflection of a gifted and sufficient capacity for blending ambitious stylishness with progressive modernity for a young and upwardly mobile audience. In sum, the “Love me Jeje” remake captures the enduring power and impact of an outstanding Afrobeats composition that resonates with an unpretentious plea for tender loving, an appeal that is as old as sin. Tems global success with the “Love me Jeje’ track points to the alluring power of Seyi Shodimu’s original song, further hinting that a good song is forever, never giving ground to age and time.
Tems’ ground-breaking win at the Grammys established her territory in African music and assured her a front row place in Afrobeats’ hall of fame. It also rendered her as a worthy ambassador of an entertaining African genre of modern music in the global entertainment metro.
About The Author
