Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter who gained initial recognition with the release of “Dumebi” in 2019 Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema has made history as the first African artiste to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The 23-year-old performed at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, France, on Monday night. Rema thrilled the audience with a performance of his hit song, ‘Calm Down.
During the ceremony in Paris, Rema delivered an electrifying performance that left the audience in awe, showcasing his incredible talent and stage presence. His distinctive fusion of modern and Afrobeat rhythms left a lasting effect on the audience, confirming his place among Nigeria’s most promising musical exports.
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Rema received an invitation to play his popular song “Calm Down” following Manchester City’s Club of the Season victory.
Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr. were among the numerous football stars seated in the front row when Rema came off stage to shake hands. Social media users were excited to see Rema perform his famous song at the ceremony.
“Nigeria to the world, Africa to the world proud of you Rema,” Says Mustapha Mayowa on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The Ballon d’Or is a prestigious individual award in the world of football that was established by France Football magazine in 1956. Lionel Messi won the men’s title for the eighth time in his amazing career, owing partly to Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup.
Watch Rema at ballon d or full performance here
CALM DOWN!@heisrema takes on the stage of the Ballon d’Or! 🎵#ballondor pic.twitter.com/EPidcd8ZMQ
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023