Nigerian singer Rema has become the first Afrobeat artist to win the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Best Afrobeats, beating out other contenders such as Davido, Burnaboy, and Wizkid.
Rema received the award for his hit song “Calm Down”, which features American pop star, Selena Gomez. The song, a remix of Rema’s original track “Runaway”, has been a global sensation, topping various music charts and streaming platforms.
The song also recently hit 1 billion streams on Spotify, making it the most streamed Afrobeat song of all time. It has also spent 54 weeks at the top of Billboard’s US Afrobeat Songs chart, breaking the record for the longest-running number one ever.
Rema and Gomez expressed their gratitude and excitement for the award in their acceptance speeches, which were met with cheers and applause from the audience. Gomez also sent her love to Nigeria, where Rema hails from, and praised him for his talent and humility.
“I just want to thank Rema so much for letting me be a part of this amazing song. He is such a talented and kind person, and he deserves all the success in the world. I am so proud of him and love Nigeria,” Gomez said.
Rema thanked Gomez for collaborating with him and said working with her was a dream come true. He also thanked his fans, label, Mavin Records, and producer Don Jazzy for their support and guidance.
“This is a huge moment for me and Afrobeat music. I want to thank Selena Gomez for believing in me and joining me on this journey. She is an incredible artist and a wonderful human being. I also want to thank my fans, my team, Mavin Records, Don Jazzy, and everyone who has helped me. This is for you,” Rema said.
The duo also received congratulations from their fellow artists and celebrities, including Taylor Swift, a close friend of Gomez. Swift was cheering and mouthing “I love you” to Gomez as she took the stage.
The MTV VMA for Best Afrobeats was introduced this year as part of the partnership between Billboard and Afro Nation, a music festival and global Afrobeats brand. The new category aims to showcase the popularity and diversity of Afrobeat music in the US and around the world.
Afrobeats is a genre of music that originated in Nigeria and Ghana in the late 2000s and early 2010s, blending elements of West African pop, hip hop, R&B, dancehall, and reggae. It has since gained international recognition and influence, with artists such as Beyoncé, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, and others collaborating with Afrobeats stars.
Some of the most successful Afrobeats songs in recent years include Wizkid’s “Essence” featuring Tems, CKay’s “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)”, Fireboy DML’s “Peru”, Ayra Starr’s “Rush”, J Hus’ “Who Told You” featuring Drake, Tems’ “Free Mind”, Burna Boy’s “Talibans II” featuring Byron Messia, among others.
