Nigerian music icon, Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has etched his name in history as the first African artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
The prestigious American publication, which covers music, politics, and popular culture, named Rema as the cover star for its April edition.
Rolling Stone highlighted the Afrobeats sensation’s remarkable rise and boundary-pushing impact on the global stage.
Mavin Records celebrated the milestone with a post on Instagram, declaring: “Rave Lordé Rema, the Afrobeats Visionary, makes history as @Rollingstone USA’s First African Cover Star!”
Following this recognition, Rema captivated audiences with an electrifying performance at the Rolling Stone concert, delivering hits such as “Dumebi,” “Woman,” and “Calm Down.”
This achievement further solidifies Rema’s position as a trailblazer in African music. It follows his recent appearance on the cover of Dazed Magazine, another influential international platform.
Rema, born in 2000 in Benin City, first gained recognition in 2019 after signing with Mavin Records.
His meteoric rise has put Afrobeats in the global spotlight, with his hit song “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez becoming the most-streamed Afrobeats track ever, earning multiple platinum certifications.
“Calm Down” also made history as the first African-led track to surpass one billion streams on Spotify and topped international charts.
The song reached number one on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional streaming chart, earning Rema a Guinness World Record.
In addition to this achievement, Rema made history as the first African artist to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2023, where he wowed the audience in Paris, France.
This latest milestone marks another step in Rema’s journey to global stardom, affirming his role in pushing African music to new heights.
