By Latiifah Amusan
Nigerian Afrobeats continues to rise as a dominant and influential genre on the international stage.
Artists like Davido, Burna Boy, and Rema have been instrumental in taking this genre to a whole new level, breaking borders and setting new records across the globe.
In 2022, multi-award-winning artist and record producer, David Adeleke, known worldwide as ‘Davido,’ made a triumphant return to the global stage.
He performed at the closing ceremony of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, just before the final match between Argentina and France.
The performance took place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, with an astounding audience of 88,966 spectators.
Davido’s emotional comeback marked a significant moment in his career after taking a break from the public eye following the tragic loss of his son, Ifeanyi, the previous year.
Another rising star, Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, has been making history in the music industry. He became the first Nigerian artist to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or Awards ceremony.
Rema, a 23-year-old multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, and performer, showcased his 2022 global hit single ‘Calm Down’ during the event in Paris.
This performance coincided with Lionel Messi receiving a record 8th Ballon d’Or.
‘Calm Down,’ which also features American singer Selena Gomez, made waves by peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and holding the top spot on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Rema, and Tems represented Afrobeats at the 2023 NBA All-Star halftime show.
Burna Boy took center stage, thrilling the audience with hits like ‘It’s Plenty,’ ‘Last Last,’ and ‘Anybody.’
Rema continued the excitement by performing ‘Calm Down’ and ‘Holiday,’ while Tems completed the lineup with her mesmerizing performances of songs like ‘Free Mind’ and ‘Crazy Things.’
She also showcased her collaborations with Wizkid (‘Essence’) and Future (‘Wait For You’). This extraordinary halftime show demonstrated the global appeal and influence of Nigerian Afrobeats, leaving a lasting impression on basketball fans and music enthusiasts alike.
The prominence of Afrobeats is undeniably taking Nigerian music to new heights, with these key players making their mark on the global stage.
As these artists continue to break borders, it’s clear that Nigerian music is here to stay and conquer the world, one stage at a time.
