Tems is the only artist nominated in both of the new fan-voted categories at the 2026 Soul Train Awards. That puts the Nigerian singer in a rare position, with her chances now resting on how loudly her supporters show up.
The Grammy winner picked up a nod for R&B/Soul Song of the Year with “What You Need.” She also landed a spot in Spotify’s RNB X International Artist category, a newly introduced award that shines a light on R&B talent working beyond the American mainstream.
The Song of the Year race is crowded. Tems is up against Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Bryson Tiller, Daniel Caesar, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, Olivia Dean and Tyla.
That’s a field mixing veterans with years of R&B credibility, pop crossovers and a couple of younger names who have built momentum fast.
Tyla’s presence on that list adds another layer. Two African women competing in a flagship R&B category at an awards show long tied to Black American music says a lot about how far the sound coming out of Africa has travelled. It also means fans of both artists could end up splitting attention in a category decided by votes.
For anyone who has followed Tems, this recognition fits a steady pattern. She first broke through internationally on Wizkid’s “Essence,” then earned a Grammy for her feature on Future’s “Wait For U” alongside Drake.
She later co-wrote Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, which picked up an Oscar nomination.
Her debut album, Born in the Wild, arrived in 2024, and its single “Love Me JeJe” won Best African Music Performance at the 2025 Grammys.
Every step has pushed her further into spaces where Afrobeats and R&B overlap. The Soul Train nods feel like the latest proof that the industry no longer sees her as a crossover curiosity.
The fan-voted format cuts both ways, though. On one hand, it rewards artists with organised, passionate fanbases, and Tems has a loyal global following that has turned out for her before.
On the other, she’s sharing the ballot with pop names like Bieber and Bruno Mars, whose audiences are massive and can mobilise quickly.
Then there’s the question of how these new categories will be received. Adding fan voting makes the show more interactive and gives listeners a direct stake in the results.
Some observers tend to argue that it turns awards into popularity contests rather than judgments of craft, and that debate is likely to follow the Soul Train categories too.
For now, Tems is in the conversation twice over, and her fanbase has a clear assignment. Voting is the next chapter, and with this many big names involved, the race for both categories is wide open.
