Nigerian Afro beat Star Divine Ikubor popularly known as Rema has now become the first African artist to perform at the prestigious event of the Ballon d’Or.
The ceremony was held on the night of 30th October 2023 at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Rema in an Instagram post after performing in the ceremony thanked the event organizers for shortlisting him to entertain the audience he also thanked God for been able to achieve such a milestone.
“Afrobeat in Ballon d’or , I’m truly grateful for the opportunity. Glory to the high most for the grace,” the young star wrote.
He has again put the afro beat on the map where he performed his catchy tune Calm Down during the high profile ceremony.
Calm Down quickly became a worldwide favourite because of its catchy mix of Afrobeats rhythms, blended with afro-fusion melodies, Rema’s unique and soulful singing and the unexpected addition of Selena Gomez on an Afrobeats song. The song production was made with modern and traditional elements, showing how African music is changing and growing.
The billion-stream milestone is no small feat, as it signifies the popularity of Calm Down and his ability to create music that transcends borders and resonates with a diverse audience. His unique sound has propelled him to the forefront of the global music stage, with the song having its highest streams from the USA, India, Mexico, Brazil and the UK.
The song’s infectious chorus and relatable lyrics have made it a go-to track for both dance floors and personal playlists, with data showing that Calm Down has been added to over a million Spotify playlists.
This milestone is absolutely remarkable for Rema, marking a pivotal moment for this talented artist and the entire Afro beats community. It’s clear that the genre is making a significant impact and gaining substantial influence on the global music stage.
Ballon d’Or is a ceremony that is organized by the France Football magazine to recognize best footballers in the world. The 2023 event was the 67th annual ceremony.
View this post on Instagram