Music
Tems Makes History as First African Headliner at FIFA Club World Cup Halftime Show
Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, became the first-ever African performer at a FIFA Club World Cup Final halftime show on 13 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The debut event featured Tems alongside global stars Doja Cat and J Balvin, curated by Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin.
Tems opened her set with the Grammy-winning track “Love Me JeJe”, delivering an Afrobeat-tinged performance that earned her a standout moment in a 15-minute segment watched by over 81,000 fans and streamed worldwide.
The headline act formed part of a larger initiative produced by Global Citizen to raise funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to generate $100 million for global education.
Her performance symbolises a key shift in global recognition for African music, signalling Tems’s importance at the crossroads of sports, art, and social impact.
