Grammy-winning legend Angélique Kidjo has described Nigerian superstar Rema as the “embodiment of Afrobeats’ global takeover”.
The Beninese-French singer-songwriter profiled Afrobeats star for the 2025 TIME100 Next list, where Rema was named as the only African act this year.
The publication, released on Tuesday, cuts across different fields including music, film, sports, science, politics and philanthropy.
Kidjo praised Rema’s distinctive artistry, noting that his hit single ‘Calm Down’ “has a unique flow and feel, not mimicking Western pop,” and is rooted in Africa while being “catchy and virtuosic”.
Highlighting his impressive achievements — including the song surpassing one billion streams twice, stadium performances, and a Grammy nomination — the 65-year-old wrote, “The young Nigerian superstar has accomplished so much”.
She described him as “the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats,” adding that “thanks to artistes like him, African music is at the forefront of global culture”.
“I fell in love with Rema’s ‘Calm Down’. It has a unique flow and feel, not mimicking Western pop; it is rooted in Africa but also catchy and virtuosic. I love to sing it,” she wrote.
“The young Nigerian superstar has accomplished so much: “Calm Down” has joined the billion-streams club twice over. Rema has performed in stadiums. His latest album earned a Grammy nomination.
“Rema is the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats.
“Thanks to artists like him, African music is at the forefront of global culture.”
‘Calm Down’ was released in February 2022 as a single off ‘Rave and Roses’, Rema’s debut album.
The singer later teamed up with Selena Gomez, the US songstress, for the song’s remix, a few months later.
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