[Music]

REMA: THE BRIDGE BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE WEST

Nigerian artist Rema transforms Afrobeats into global phenomenon, bridging African culture with Western markets through hits like Calm Down.

image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri
image of Nigerian musician Rema (Divine Ikubor), born in 2000, who has become a leading figure in the Afrobeats movement. The piece covers his journey from performing in church in Benin City to achieving global success with his "Afro-Rave" style that blends African rhythms with trap and pop elements. Key highlights include his viral breakthrough in 2018, his debut EP and album "Rave & Roses," and the massive success of "Calm Down" featuring Selena Gomez, which became the first Afrobeats song to achieve major mainstream success in American and European markets. The article discusses his cultural significance as a bridge between African and Western music, his recent Milan concert, and his role in representing a new generation of global African artists alongside peers like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
© Casawi | Emanuele Tixi Palmieri

Milan's Fabrique venue hosted one of global music's most important names Saturday night, as Afrobeats pioneer Rema brought his tour to Italy.

Few artists have shaped contemporary music like Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema. His fusion of Afro rhythms, pop melodies, and Caribbean influences has established him as a central figure in the Afrobeats movement, taking the Nigerian genre from the streets of Benin City to international festival stages.

Born in 2000 in Benin City, Nigeria, Rema began his musical journey in church, developing strong rhythmic and vocal skills. The young Divine started writing and recording music during his teens in difficult circumstances, often using makeshift instruments and internet connections to share his work.

His first major recognition came in 2018 when a freestyle over a D'Prince beat went viral. This marked the turning point. D'Prince contacted him, invited him to Lagos, and signed him to Jonzing World.

The ascent was rapid and unprecedented.

Rema created something entirely new that extends beyond Afrobeats. His debut EP, Rema (2019), blended Afrobeat sounds with American trap energy and electronic pop electricity. Tracks like Dumebi, Iron Man, and Corny caught international critical attention.

Iron Man notably appeared on Barack Obama's summer playlist.

Over the years, Rema refined his style further, creating a subgenre he calls "Afro-Rave": a more modern version of Afrobeats that merges Caribbean rhythms, trap bass, and African vocal melodies. The sound accompanies lyrics spanning love, spirituality, and celebration.

His true debut album came in 2022 with Rave & Roses, which placed Rema definitively at the center of the global scene. Featuring collaborations with 6LACK, AJ Tracey, Chris Brown, and Yseult, the album represents his modern and unique vision.

The standout track, Calm Down, became a viral phenomenon. The remix version with Selena Gomez transformed him into a global superstar. The song entered the top 10 on Billboard and Spotify global charts, accumulating billions of streams and opening international arena doors for Rema.

Calm Down became the first Afrobeats hit to achieve such massive impact on American and European mainstream markets, marking a turning point for the genre.

His image is powerful, mystical, young yet profound. He represents the spirit of a globalized African generation that is ambitious, connected, and proud of its roots.

In his lyrics, Rema addresses themes including faith, his father's death, and the struggle for success in a complex and often hostile world. This combination of vulnerability and charisma makes him authentic and beloved.

Alongside artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tems, and Asake, he is helping redefine what it means to be a global African artist. Rema perfectly embodies African Generation Z: digital natives who are spiritual yet deeply connected to their roots.

He has demonstrated that it's possible to be yourself, speak your own language, mix Yoruba with English, and still become a global icon.

Each new release is anticipated by fans and critics alike. Just the other night, more than 3,000 people awaited him in Milan. A flow of emotions, dancing, and touching moments that attendees will hardly forget.

Rema is more than a musician. He is a movement, a symbol, a cultural bridge between Africa and the West, between tradition and innovation, between rhythm and vision. He represents the face of a new creative Africa, ready to guide the future of global culture.

In an era when barriers between genres, languages, and cultures are finally collapsing, Rema stands as the symbol of this epochal change. And this is only the beginning.

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Michele Favale

Michele Favale

Michele Favale is a Social Media Manager and a big music fan. After working and studying around Italy, he now lives and works in Lecce, but is always ready to travel. His passion for music has led him to be passionate about every genre with a predilection for the black world. A DJ by passion and opportunity, he is always ready to discover new music and share it with everyone.

@mikefavale12