Nigerian afrobeats sensation, Rema, has the entertainment world abuzz with his recent sold-out performance at the O2 Arena in London on Tuesday, November 14. At just 23, Rema showcased the pinnacle of his career, headlining the 20,000-capacity venue where he once made a guest appearance two years ago during Burna Boy's concert. Grateful for the opportunity, Rema took to social media, expressing his thanks to Burna Boy, stating, “Today it’s my turn to conquer that same stage, and I wish you were here to share this moment with me. Regardless, I’m grateful for the motivation.” Before I get on stage, I want to say a big thank you to @burnaboy for bringing me on stage 2 years ago. Today it’s my turn to conquer that same stage and I wish you were here to share this moment with me. Regardless, I’m grateful for the motivation. With love, Rema. pic.twitter.com/o92EqxJvh7 — REMA (@heisrema) November 14, 2023 Rema's ascent aligns with the success of his hit track, Calm Down, a chart-topper that recently became the first song by an African lead artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. It also became the first African song to spend a year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. ALSO READ: Rema becomes first African to perform at Ballon d’Or awards According to music critics, Rema delivered a stellar performance, treating the audience to his breakthrough single Dumebi and energetic tracks like Woman, Bounce, and Calm Down, among others. However, Rema's performance is not without controversy. Social media erupted with claims of his stage antics being labeled as demonic. The artist made a grand entrance, appearing on a screen in the arena, seemingly escaping from something, entering a fire portal, and mounting a horse-like, burning creature. Unveiled on the back of the fiery horse, Rema, clad in a long black hooded coat and red mask, initiated the show with a demonically scream, a departure from his usual smooth and slick song performances. ALSO READ: Wizkid makes history as first African artiste to sell out Tottenham Stadium Contrary to online rumors, insiders reveal that the stage setup during Rema's performance featured Idia symbolism, not occultism. The distinctive mask he wore, known as the Idia mask, and the presence of a horse were deliberate nods to the historical figure Idia, a warrior queen mother renowned for riding into battle for her son, Oba Esigie. The original Idia mask is currently showcased at the London Museum of Antiquities. Idia, who held the title of Iyoba of Benin Kingdom, shares historical roots with Rema's hometown. The stage elements were a tribute to this powerful historical narrative. ALSO READ: Nigeria’s Davido and Rema in Kigali for Trace Awards Rema's music represents the evolution of Afrobeats into a global genre, he describes his style as Afro-rave. The horror-themed spectacle he presented, including riding a giant bat, added a twist to his usually polished performances. The show ended up exceeding the curfew by 20 minutes, and Rema will be facing fines, with The O2 Arena reportedly imposing a penalty of £10,000 per minute for overrunning. Rema was in Rwanda this October for the Trace Awards and Festival. During this visit, he clinched Global African Artist and Song of the Year at the awards. He also met President Kagame. The artiste also performed in Rwanda at the BK All Star Game in 2021.
