From Lagos to Chicago: Tems joins global Icons for Obama Center Opening

Nigerian music sensation Tems has been announced as one of the headline performers for the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, further cementing her status as one of Africa’s most influential global music exports.

The Grammy Award-winning singer will take the stage alongside an array of internationally acclaimed artistes, including John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera and members of Irish rock band U2, Bono and The Edge, during the historic event on 18 June.

The opening ceremony marks the official unveiling of the Obama Presidential Center, a sprawling campus on Chicago’s South Side designed to inspire civic engagement and community leadership. The event is being hosted by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

According to the Obama Foundation, the invite-only ceremony will feature performances, storytelling and reflections on the values that shaped the Obama presidency. The event will also be livestreamed globally, allowing audiences around the world to participate in the celebration.

The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Valerie Jarrett, described the ceremony as a unique occasion. She said: “This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other, filled with music, performances, and hope.” She added that organisers hope to inspire people to believe in their ability to create change in their communities.

For Tems, the invitation represents another major milestone in a career that has seen her rise from the Nigerian music scene to become one of the most recognisable African voices on the global stage. She is the only Nigerian artiste named among the performers for the ceremony.

The Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open to the public on 19 June and is expected to attract visitors from across the world. The facility includes a museum, public spaces, educational centres, sporting facilities and community-focused attractions.