Afrobeats sensation Rema has made history as the only African artist featured on the 2025 TIME100 Next list, a prestigious recognition of the world’s most influential rising stars.
His profile on the list was penned by Grammy-winning music legend Angélique Kidjo, who praised Rema’s groundbreaking achievements and global impact. She drew parallels between his success and the legacy of African music pioneers like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Youssou N’Dour—artists who paved the way for African sounds on the world stage.
“In highlighting the recent global rise of African music, I had to include contemporary voices,” Kidjo wrote. “I fell in love with Rema’s ‘Calm Down.’ It has a distinct flow and feeling—not a copy of Western pop, but deeply rooted in Africa while being irresistibly catchy and masterfully crafted. I love singing it.”
She went on to celebrate his impressive milestones: “‘Calm Down’ has crossed the billion-stream mark—twice. Rema has filled stadiums and earned a Grammy nomination for his latest album.”
Kidjo concluded by calling him a symbol of Afrobeats’ global reach: “Rema represents the international rise of Afrobeats. Thanks to artists like him, African music now stands at the forefront of global culture.”
This milestone further solidifies Rema’s status as a leading force in the international music scene.
