In a departure from the stance of his Afro-fusion colleague, Burna Boy, Rema has acknowledged the pivotal role of Afrobeats in nurturing emerging sub-genres of music.
Credited as the trailblazer of Afrorave, Rema, who is signed to Jonzing World/Mavin, used his acceptance speech at the recently concluded 16th Headies Awards to take a subtle jab at fellow artists who have disparaged Afrobeats, despite its global popularity and it being the medium via which they gained prominence internationally.
The 16th Headies Awards, held on September 3, 2023, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, saw Rema, the “Calm Down” crooner, clinching the prestigious African Artiste of the Year Award.
He beat the likes of Burna Boy, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, Morocco’s Marwa Loud, and Ghana’s Black Sherif to clinch the African Artiste of the Year Award.
While giving his acceptance speech, Rema recognised Afrobeats accorded him the platform to soar in his musical career.
He added regardless of the sub-genres of Nigerian music any artiste decides to do, they would ultimately gather collectively at the Afrobeats Awards
He said,
“The reason why I’m here, be it Afrorave, Afro this, Afro that…las las we go jam for Afrobeats Award. You get me.”
“I am not here because of the award. I am here because it is important to support our institutions.”
During his acceptance speech, Rema acknowledged that Afrobeats had provided the platform for his meteoric rise in the music industry.
He further emphasized that regardless of the sub-genres that Nigerian artists explore, they would eventually converge at the Afrobeats Awards.
Some fans, therefore, commented on Rema’s remarks.
Makindeanthonyoluwasegun27 stated: “In a short summary, he means afro fusion is under afro beat
smiler_from_benin said,
“@heisrema be doing the most, congratulations blood, keep winning and making Edo proud.”
beatzbyjava stated,
“Faaaaaact!!! We need to preach one goal!!!”
believer_kiddobdd wrote,
“Normal talk, Afro this Afro that no concern us na AfroBeat we sabi.”
habbibcoker said,
“He spoke very well. The only sensible being at the award.
Zaza___mula1 wrote,
“Burna go dey cry by now, small Rema they lecture am.”