Burna Boy and Rema made history at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards by winning the inaugural Afrobeat categories. Burna Boy secured the title of Top Afrobeats Artiste, triumphing over formidable contenders like Wizkid, Rema, Tems, and Cameroonian sensation Libianca. His victory marked a significant milestone as the first-ever winner of the newly-established ‘Top Afrobeats Artiste’ category. Rema seized the award for ‘Top Afrobeats Song‘ with his remix of ‘Calm Down,’ featuring Selena Gomez.
In a recorded video message, Burna Boy expressed optimism about the future, stating, “The future’s bright… This is just the tip of the iceberg, but you’re gonna see the whole vision soon.” The recognition of Afrobeats extended beyond Burna Boy, as fellow Nigerian artist Rema was also honored at the event.
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Rema received an award for his widely acclaimed song “Calm Down,” which has shattered streaming and chart records. Accepting the award for the best Afrobeats song, Rema expressed gratitude to his fans and characterized the prize as “a celebration of unity and the global domination of Afrobeats.” The triumph of these Nigerian artists underscores the genre’s influence and success on the international stage.
Both Nigerian popstars earned these accolades following successful headline shows as part of their global tours. Rema sold out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in London on November 14. Burna Boy electrified the Toyota Center in as part of his 16-city marathon in support of his latest album ‘I Told Them.’
Burna Boy
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. His breakthrough came in 2012 with the release of “Like to Party,” the lead single from his debut album, L.I.F.E. Signing with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the U.S. and Warner Music Group globally in 2017, his major-label debut, Outside (2018), marked a pivotal moment.
Burna Boy’s accolades include the 2019 BET Award for Best International Act and the 2020 Grammy for Best World Music Album with African Giant. His fifth studio album, Twice as Tall (2020), secured another Grammy win. Love, Damini, his sixth studio album released in July 2022, achieved global success, notably topping the Billboard 200 chart. He was honored with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his musical achievements. Recognized by Rolling Stone in 2023 as the 197th greatest singer of all time, Burna Boy continues to shine, securing wins at the 2023 BET Awards and The Headies.
Rema
Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He catapulted into the spotlight with the release of “Dumebi” in 2019. Rema is part of the Jonzing World record, owned by D’Prince, with connections to Mavin Records. Internationally, he gained widespread acclaim with his 2022 hit single “Calm Down.” The remix, featuring Selena Gomez, reached an impressive No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart for an unprecedented 58 weeks, setting a new record.