Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, on Sunday night paid tribute to music veteran D’banj for his pivotal role in bringing Afrobeats to the global stage, particularly in the United Kingdom.
During his sold-out performance at the O2 Arena, Rema brought D’banj on stage and acknowledged the influence of the artist’s 2012 hit, Oliver Twist, which became the first Nigerian song to break into the UK’s official top 10 chart. The milestone is widely credited with paving the way for the genre’s subsequent success abroad.
“First of all, I want to appreciate you for opening the doors. We [the new generation artists] do not do it alone,” Rema said. “You were one of the first ones to bring Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door.”
Rema’s remarks come as Afrobeats continues to gain momentum globally, with younger artists building on the foundation laid by pioneers like D’banj.
