Nigerian music sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has once again broken boundaries by becoming the first African artiste to grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
A Milestone Achievement
The American monthly magazine, renowned for its focus on music, politics, and popular culture, unveiled Rema as the Cover Star for its April edition. The landmark moment was celebrated by Mavin Records on their official Instagram page, declaring:
“Rave Lordé Rema the Afrobeats Visionary, makes history as @Rollingstone USA First African Cover Star!”
To commemorate the achievement, Rema delivered an electrifying performance at a Rolling Stone concert, thrilling the audience with hit songs like “Dumebi,” “Woman,” and his record-breaking single “Calm Down.”
Rema’s Global Impact
Since bursting onto the music scene in 2019 under Mavin Records, the Benin City-born star has continuously elevated Afrobeats to the global stage. His international success skyrocketed with “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, which has become the most streamed Afrobeats track in history.
The collaboration not only earned multiple platinum certifications but also set an unprecedented milestone by surpassing a billion streams on Spotify. Furthermore, it topped the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional streaming chart, earning Rema a Guinness World Record.
More Records and Recognitions
Rema’s accomplishments extend beyond the studio. In 2023, he made history as the first African artist to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, leaving the global audience in awe. His increasing presence on the international stage was further recognized with a cover feature on Dazed Magazine earlier this year.
A Bright Future for Afrobeats
As Afrobeats continues to captivate global audiences, Rema’s achievements serve as a testament to the genre’s cultural dominance. His historic Rolling Stone cover not only amplifies his legacy but also paves the way for more African artists to shine on the global stage.
With every milestone, Rema is proving that the world is indeed listening — and Afrobeats is here to stay.
