Rema had a fantastic 2023 thanks to his hit single “Calm Down”, which propelled him to international stardom and led to chart-topping success in multiple countries, along with setting various records.
Popularly known as Rema, Nigerian afrobeat star, Divine Ikubor made history by becoming the first African artist to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony. This event, organized annually by the French Football Federation, celebrates the world’s best football players.
At the ceremony in Paris, Rema wowed the audience, which included football superstars from across the globe, with his performance of “Calm Down”. On his social media accounts, Rema expressed his honour in taking Afrobeats to the global stage and gave thanks to God for his grace.
His Instagram post read,
Afrobeat in Ballon d’Or, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity. Glory to the most high for the grace. 🤲🏾❤️
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Rema performed in front of this year’s Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, and Inter Miami player, Mbappe, as well as, Haaland, and Jude Bellingham, among other notable figures.
He achieved the title of Best Afrobeats Song at the MTV Video Music Awards for his “Calm Down” remix with American singer, Selena Gomez.
Notably, he recently appeared in Kigali for the Trace Africa Awards on October 21 at BK Arena, where he was recognized in the Global African Artist and Song of the Year categories for his track, “Calm Down”.
Rema’s performance at the Ballon d’Or ceremony puts him in the company of Nigerian artists like Davido and Burna Boy, who have also graced major football stages. Davido was the first Nigerian to perform at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar, while Burna Boy became the first African to perform at the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul.
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