Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema has made history as the only African artist named on the 2025 TIME100 Next list, which celebrates rising global leaders and influencers.
His profile in the magazine was written by Grammy-winning singer Angélique Kidjo, who praised his impact on music and culture.
Kidjo compared Rema’s success to African legends like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Youssou N’Dour, who helped bring African sounds to the world stage.
She said she was drawn to his hit song Calm Down, which has topped global charts and surpassed two billion streams. She described it as “rooted in Africa but also catchy and unique.”
Rema has performed in stadiums around the world, and his latest album was nominated for a Grammy.
“Rema is the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats. Thanks to artists like him, African music is at the forefront of global culture,” Kidjo wrote.
