Tems To Perform At Obama Presidential Centre Grand Opening Alongside John Legend, Marc Anthony, Other Global Music Icons

Nigerian singer Tems will share a stage with some of the most celebrated names in music history when the Obama Presidential Centre officially opens in Chicago on Thursday, June 18, in a ceremony set to be watched by millions around the world.

The Obama Foundation unveiled a star-studded performer lineup this week, confirming that Tems, John Legend, and Marc Anthony will join Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, The Roots, and U2’s The Edge for the grand opening dedication.

Actress and producer Marsai Martin is also set to perform at the event.
The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. CT at the Centre’s John Lewis Plaza in Jackson Park, where both Barack and Michelle Obama are scheduled to deliver speeches.

While the event itself is invite-only, the Obama Foundation is hosting a free public watch party on Midway Plaisance, with the full ceremony also being livestreamed globally.

Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett said while announcing the lineup, “This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other, filled with music, performances, and hope.”

Tems is the only Nigerian act on the bill and one of a small group of international artists chosen for what the Foundation is billing as a once-in-a-generation celebration of democracy, culture, and hope.

Her selection reflects a remarkable four-year run that has made her one of the most recognisable African artists on the global stage. She became the first African woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with the song ‘Wait For U’ featuring Future, and Drake topped the charts in 2022. That same year, Tems also performed at the FIFA World Cup closing ceremony in Qatar.

The $850 million Centre, financed entirely through private donations, is the most expensive presidential library ever built. It sits on a 19.3-acre campus in Chicago’s Jackson Park and opens to the public on Juneteenth, June 19, with celebrations continuing through the weekend.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​