Afrobeats sensation Rema has earned a historic spot on the 2025 TIME100 Next list, becoming the only African artist featured among the world’s most influential rising stars.
The prestigious recognition highlights his groundbreaking impact on global music and solidifies his role as a leading force in Afrobeats. Rema’s inclusion comes on the heels of the massive success of his hit single “Calm Down”, which has surpassed a billion streams twice on global platforms.
His recognition by TIME reflects not just his commercial achievements but also his role in pushing African music further into the global spotlight.
Grammy-winning music icon Angélique Kidjo penned Rema’s profile for the list, praising his originality and influence. She compared his rise to that of African legends like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Youssou N’Dour, who paved the way for African music on the world stage.“With the recent global explosion of African music, I needed to include some contemporary sounds,” Kidjo wrote.
“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, yet catchy and virtuosic. I love to sing it.”She added,
“The young Nigerian superstar has accomplished so much: Calm Down has joined the billion-stream club twice over. Rema has performed in stadiums. His latest album earned a Grammy nomination.
He is the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats.”Rema joins a diverse lineup of global stars on the TIME100 Next list, including Teyana Taylor and GloRilla, further proving that African artists are not just participating in global culture they are shaping it.
This milestone cements Rema’s status as a global trailblazer and opens more doors for African music to thrive on the world stage.
