This week, CNN International’s magazine programme, African Voices Changemakers, which is sponsored by the leading telecommunications and digital solutions company Globacom, features Nigerian Afrobeat musician, songwriter, and multiple award-winner, Rema.
The 24-year-old music star with real name Divine Ikubor, of Edo State, found his love for music by singing in church and rapping to entertain his friends at Ighile Group of Schools, his secondary school.
After sharing a popular freestyle to D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang” on Instagram, he became well-known. D’Prince, astounded by his exceptional talent, flew him to Lagos and got him an offer of a record deal with Jonzing World, a division of Mavin Records that is owned by producer and music entrepreneur, Don Jazzy. The first fruit of that contract was his 2019 smash song, “Dumebi”.
Rema’s song, “Calm Down” marked his breakthrough internationally in 2022 and sparked a remix with American singer, Selena Gomez. For 58 weeks, a record, the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and at the top of the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart.
Through his musical achievements, Rema has won multiple accolades, such as the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Songs and the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video.
In addition to performing at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France on October 30, 2023, he received an award on November 7, 2022, during his London concert for reaching one billion streams worldwide.
The magazine programme will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30 a.m., with repeats at noon the same day. More repeats come up on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4.00 a.m.
