Nigerian singer Tems has added another major achievement to her growing international career, with her song What You Need reportedly becoming the longest-charting solo song by an African act in Billboard Hot 100 history.
The track has spent 30 weeks on the prestigious US chart, surpassing the 29-week runs recorded by Tyla’s Water and CKay’s Love Nwantiti. The song was reported at No. 33 in the latest chart update, having previously peaked at No. 29.
The achievement is another sign of Tems’ growing influence beyond Nigeria. Known for her distinctive vocals and soulful sound, the singer has steadily built an international audience through releases, collaborations and performances that have helped place African music in front of wider audiences.
It is worth noting that the record concerns solo songs. Rema and Selena Gomez’s Calm Down spent 57 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, while Wizkid’s Essence, featuring Tems and Justin Bieber, spent 35 weeks. Those are collaborations and therefore fall outside the solo-song category.
For Nigerian music fans, Tems’ latest milestone offers another reason to celebrate the global reach of homegrown talent. Her success also demonstrates that songs can maintain international momentum long after their initial release.
With What You Need continuing to attract attention, fans will be watching to see how long the record-breaking run lasts and what Tems delivers next.
