Tems’ For Broken Ears: The Soul That Redefined Afrobeats — 700 Million Streams Later

When Tems released For Broken Ears in 2020, the world didn’t just hear a new voice — it felt one. The Nigerian singer-songwriter arrived not with noise, but with soul; not with hype, but with honesty. Each track on the EP — from Free Mind to Damages — carried an emotional weight that spoke to freedom, heartbreak, and self-awareness in ways few African projects ever had.

Fast forward to today, For Broken Ears has surpassed 700 million streams on Spotify, officially becoming Tems’ first project to reach that milestone and the 12th most-streamed Nigerian project of all time. That’s not just a streaming achievement — it’s a cultural statement.

Tems’ rise has been nothing short of poetic. For Broken Ears didn’t just introduce her; it defined her essence. It gave birth to a global sound that blends Afrobeats, R&B, and alt-soul into something deeply spiritual and universal. Her vulnerability became her superpower, inspiring a wave of artists who no longer had to choose between being soulful and being African.

Even years later, Free Mind continues to chart globally, a testament to how timeless the project remains. It’s the kind of music that doesn’t chase trends — it builds legacies.