Divine Joshua Ikubor (born May 1, 2000), known professionally as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. A pioneer of what he calls “Afrorave”, a blend of Afrobeats with trap, amapiano and Arabian or Indian influences, he has rapidly become one of the most globally recognized faces of contemporary African music.

Early Life & Breakthrough
Born and raised in Benin City, Edo State, Rema discovered his passion for music through his church and local performances. After experiencing the tragic loss of his father and older brother at a young age, he turned to music as an outlet and a way to support his family.

His breakthrough came in 2018 when a freestyle video he posted over D’Prince’s track “Gucci Gang” went viral on Instagram. This caught D’Prince’s attention, leading to a record deal with Jonzing World (a subsidiary of Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records) in 2019. He launched his mainstream career shortly after with the breakout hit “Dumebi.”

Global Prominence
Rema’s international profile skyrocketed with his 2022 debut album, Rave & Roses. The standout track, “Calm Down”, achieved monumental success, particularly after a remix featuring American singer Selena Gomez. The track peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, led the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks, and earned him an MTV Video Music Award.

Recent Milestones
In 2024, Rema released his critically acclaimed sophomore album, HEIS. The project broke Spotify streaming records for a Nigerian album upon its release and earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Performance in 2025.

By 2026, Rema had firmly solidified his industry dominance. He swept three major categories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), including the night’s top prize for Artiste of the Year. Further cementing his global reach, he performed the song “Goals” alongside Lisa of Blackpink and Brazilian singer Anitta at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.