Rema Becomes First African Artist on 2025 TIME100 Next List

By 9jafinds Staff | Culture, Music & Diaspora News

Rema has been named on the 2025 TIME100 Next list, becoming the first African artist to ever be featured. The TIME100 Next list is reserved for the world’s most influential rising stars — game changers shaping culture, politics, technology, and entertainment.

For Rema, born Divine Ikubor in Benin City, Nigeria, this recognition is more than personal success; it’s a powerful milestone in the global rise of Afrobeats, a movement reshaping popular music worldwide.

At 9jafinds, where we spotlight stories at the intersection of Nigerian culture, commerce, and community, this achievement is a reminder of why our nation’s voices belong at the center of global conversations.

Rema’s Global Triumph

TIME tapped Grammy-winning legend Angélique Kidjo to pen Rema’s profile — and her words underscored just how significant his rise has been.

Kidjo placed Rema in the lineage of African music greats: Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Youssou N’Dour, icons who brought Africa’s heartbeat to the world stage.

She wrote:

“With the recent global explosion of African music, I needed to include some contemporary sounds. 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.”

This is more than praise — it’s a passing of the torch. From Fela’s activism to Kidjo’s trailblazing Grammy legacy, to Rema’s billion-streaming “Calm Down,” Afrobeats has moved from underground Lagos clubs to stadiums in Europe, America, and beyond.

Why Rema Matters

Rema is not just another pop star — he is the face of a new global youth culture.

• Streaming Powerhouse: His hit Calm Down (and its Selena Gomez remix) has crossed two billion streams.

• Award Recognition: His latest album earned a Grammy nomination, a rare feat for a Nigerian artist at his age.

• Cultural Ambassador: Every performance — from Coachella to O2 Arena — is an act of exporting Nigeria’s creativity.

What makes Rema stand out is not only his music but his authenticity. He doesn’t dilute Afrobeats to fit Western molds. Instead, he proves that being unapologetically Nigerian is what the world craves.

Nigeria at the Center of Global Culture

The inclusion of Rema in TIME100 Next is not just about him. It’s about Nigeria’s role as a cultural powerhouse.

From Burna Boy selling out London Stadium, to Tems penning global hits, to Wizkid’s Made in Lagos breaking charts, and now Rema etching his name in TIME’s history — Nigeria continues to export sound, style, and soul to every corner of the globe.

And at 9jafinds, we document these moments because they are not only entertainment stories — they are economic and cultural movements. Afrobeats fuels billion-dollar tours, global brand partnerships, and tourism that impacts Nigeria’s economy.

What This Means for the Diaspora

For Nigerians abroad, Rema’s win is a reminder: your heritage is power.

When you hear Calm Down in a Toronto club, on the streets of London, or blaring from a car in Atlanta, it’s proof that Nigeria’s voice travels.

And for young creatives back home, his journey shows that Benin City to Billboard is possible. With consistency, originality, and global strategy, local talent can become global culture.

Why 9jafinds Is Covering This

At 9jafinds, we are building the #1 hub for Nigerian culture, commerce, and community — a platform where stories like this live alongside guides on business, migration, diaspora life, and everyday Naija hustle.

Where platforms like The Shade Room (3.5B actions) and Complex (942M actions) dominate global culture reporting, our mission is to put Nigerian stories at the center of that same conversation — for Nigerians at home, the diaspora, and the world.

We are not just reporting the news. We are archiving Nigeria’s cultural blueprint.

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FAQs

Q1: Who is Rema?
Rema (Divine Ikubor) is a Nigerian Afrobeats artist signed to Mavin Records, known globally for his hit Calm Down.

Q2: What is the TIME100 Next list?
It’s an annual list by TIME magazine celebrating the world’s most influential rising stars in culture, politics, science, and business.

Q3: Why is Rema’s recognition historic?
He is the first African artist ever to make the TIME100 Next list.

Q4: Who wrote Rema’s TIME100 profile?
It was written by Angélique Kidjo, Grammy-winning African music icon.

Q5: How many streams does Calm Down have?
The song has crossed 2 billion streams globally.

Conclusion

Rema’s place on the TIME100 Next list is more than a personal accolade — it’s a collective victory for Nigeria, for Afrobeats, and for Africa’s global presence.

At just 24, he joins the ranks of cultural disruptors shaping the 21st century. And with every beat, every lyric, and every sold-out show, Rema carries Nigeria with him.

At 9jafinds, we celebrate this not just as entertainment, but as evidence of Nigeria’s undeniable influence in global culture.

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