Why Rema chose 2024 as the year to represent his hometown

What happens when a Benin City guy like Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema becomes a global celebrity, selling out gigs across the globe and penning the first song by an African artist to receive over one billion Spotify plays? He makes a victory loop back home.

Before his sold-out homecoming gig at the end of August, the singer told CNN, “I got Benin (City) blood rushing in my rushing in my veins.”

“The biggest song from Africa is already mine. I can either pursue that further or just take care of my family, my culture, and myself.

Rema, whose true name is Divine Ikubor, reached international success in 2022, with his breakthrough track “Calm Down.” A follow-up remix with Selena Gomez became the first African song to spend a year on the Billboard Hot 100.

The star is commemorating his fifth year in the business by going back to his roots and enhancing his heritage, which he claims is the basis for his quick ascent to the top. He gained notoriety with his brand of Afrobeats, known as Afro-rave, which blends Afrobeats, dancehall, R&B, hip hop, and house sounds.

“It’s been five years of global expansion,” the 24-year-old singer explained. “I simply feel that having a strong body of work connected to my roots was necessary.”