Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, reflected on his rise in music while collecting three honors at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Lagos on Sunday.
During his acceptance speech at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, the 25 year old singer revealed, “Since I was 19, since I got to Mavin. I’m 25 now, I don dey old oo. But yeah, it’s beautiful to be here again and still getting an award, seven years in the game. I really appreciate it. Shout out to AFRIMA. One love.”
Rema, who won Artiste of the Year, Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Best African Artiste in RnB and Soul, used the platform to emphasise the importance of supporting African music institutions and Afrobeats platforms. He reinforced a message first delivered at the 2023 Headies Awards.
“Tonight, I am here most especially because as I said at the Headies Award, I always think it’s important to always support our utilities of Afrobeats. Our platforms. Especially platforms that would not divide or put down or split this unity that we have in the room,” he said.
The singer continued, “I must say it is very important that I let everyone know that I am not here because of the award. I am here because it is important to support our institutions. When I say institutions, I mean you know the body that supports you to be able to have these major successes. The media houses, the awards. I feel like we are in a very sensitive period, that if we do not give attention to our institutions, with this chance that we have, if we miss this chance, we will never have this chance again.”
He added, “You can see, even in Lagos or in Nigeria, the fans do not even trust the artistes no more. They buy tickets no more. We own Afrobeats… But that shows that our utilities. I mean, our institutions are failing slowly and slowly. And it will affect us big time. And that is the reason why I am here. Be it Afro rave, Afro this, Afro that, last last we go jam for Afrobeats award. This is our chance. We are not the first African giant that will make it big. Reggae has done its own. There is a reason why we are doing what we are doing right now. We are bigger. This is our chance to protect what we have.”
Signed to Mavin Records from the age of 19, Rema rose to prominence in 2019 with hit tracks like Iron Man and Dumebi, quickly establishing himself as one of Africa’s most celebrated musicians. His AFRIMA 2026 success underlines both his career longevity and his call for unity and protection of the Afrobeats genre.
Ademide Adebayo
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