Being the first-ever Nigerian artist to perform on the Ballon d’Or stage was a revolutionary achievement for the highly acclaimed international Afrobeat sensation Rema.
His historic performance inspired pride in his country and received widespread praise from his peers, who praised the young singer on social media.
Still, a lot of football fans were interested in Rema because of what she did at the award ceremony.
At the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Divine Ikubor, better known by his stage name Rema, accomplished a noteworthy milestone in his international music career with a riveting performance of his hit track “Calm Down.”
Rema became the first Nigerian artist to perform on stage at this globally recognized award ceremony, making this appearance historic.
Although the Afrobeat artist’s achievement in appearing on the Ballon d’Or stage was impressive, there was one specific moment during his performance that created a lot of interest and buzz.
Observers noted Rema’s handshake exchanges with several football luminaries, such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva.
What stood out, however, was his noticeable omission of an interaction with Lionel Messi, the record-breaking 8-time Ballon d’Or winner, before promptly returning to the stage to conclude his electrifying performance.
Rema’s performance at the Ballon d’Or ceremony is yet another testament to the growing international recognition of Nigerian artists.
Lately, a series of Nigerian musicians had remarkable international engagements, underscoring the global appeal of their music. Tiwa Savage graced King Charles’ Inauguration with her performance, while Davido had the honour of performing at the World Cup final. Burna Boy delivered an exhilarating show at the UEFA Champions League final. These milestones highlight the increasing influence and appreciation of Nigerian music on the global stage.
Sharing the video that captured the moment of interaction between Rema and the football stars, Tunde Ednut wrote:
“Rema, Nigeria is proud of you. He shook the world’s best, but didn’t shake Messi. Chai, Maybe he didn’t see Messi.”
“DROP THAT LOVE ❤️❤️❤️❤️ FOR REMA. This guy don blow finish. EDO STATE TO THE WORLD.”
Watch video below:
