Nigerian Singer Tems Set to Perform at Barack Obama Presidential Centre Launch

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Tems has been announced among the headline performers for the official opening of the Obama Presidential Centre, a landmark cultural and community institution established by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

The event, scheduled for June 19 in Chicago, will bring together some of the world's most celebrated musicians, artists and public figures to mark the opening of the centre, which is located on the city’s South Side.

Tems inclusion comes only days after another Nigerian, internationally acclaimed visual artist Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, unveiled a portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama commissioned for the centre.

According to organisers, the 31-year-old Nigerian star will perform alongside music legends including Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Eddie Vedder and Jennifer Hudson.

Former President Obama announced the lineup through a post on his Instagram page, where he shared details of the celebration and highlighted the significance of the occasion.

Other performers and guests expected at the event include Bono and The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, The Roots, Marc Anthony, Guitars Over Guns, Uniting Voices Chicago and members of the Illinois National Guard.

American actress and producer Marsai Martin will also participate, while former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett and businessman Marty Nesbitt are expected to deliver remarks. Describing the gathering as a convergence of influential voices and global cultural icons, Obama thanked everyone who contributed to bringing the project to life.

The Obama Presidential Centre has been designed as more than a museum dedicated to a former president. The facility serves as a community and cultural hub focused on leadership development, civic engagement, public service and youth empowerment.

In addition to exhibits chronicling Obama’s life and presidency, the centre features educational spaces, recreational facilities, public gardens, a branch library and programmes designed to inspire future generations of leaders.

Reflecting on the project, Obama paid tribute to his late mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, whom he described as a source of love, wisdom and strength for the family. He also praised Michelle Obama’s father, Fraser Robinson, for his work ethic and commitment to family values.

For Michelle Obama, the opening represents a deeply personal milestone.

She noted that she grew up on Chicago’s South Side, where Barack Obama began his community organising career and where they raised their daughters.

According to her, the centre will provide opportunities for young people from the community to see themselves reflected in a place dedicated to history, leadership, creativity and hope.

“Opening the presidential centre right here on the South Side of Chicago is truly a full-circle moment,” she said.

Mrs Obama recalled that the location was once an underutilised and neglected area that many residents passed daily without imagining what it could become.

She praised her husband’s vision and the years of work invested in transforming the site into a world-class institution.

“I’ve said this many times before, the notion that kids like me will have a magnificent space full of history and hope and art and leadership and activity right in their backyard. There’s nothing more full circle than that,” she said.

The opening ceremony is expected to attract global attention, with Tems once again representing Nigeria on one of the world’s biggest cultural stages.