Rema wins Best Male Artist at 2023 Headies
Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema added a Headies trophy to his awards collection after being named Best Male Artist at the 2023 ceremony on Sunday night, September 3, in Atalanta, the United States.
The 23-year-old sensation beat out competition from heavyweight artists to claim his first-ever win at the premier Afrobeats award show.
Speaking after accepting the award, Rema, real name Divine Ikubor urged people to support local institutions.
"I'm not here because of the award, I'm here because we need to support our institutions. We are in a very sensitive period that if we don't give our attention to our institutions, we will miss this chance that we have,” he said.
Rema has become one of Africa's most streamed and beloved talents since bursting onto the scene in 2019. Hits like "Iron Man" and "Calm Down" have earned him artistic cred and global fandom.
The Headies accolade caps a successful year for Rema marked by his album "Rave & Roses" and concerts across Europe and North America.
As the fastest-rising young talent in Nigerian pop music today, the Best Male Artist validation cements his status as a leader of Africa's booming music industry.
The win establishes Rema as an artist to watch as he continues blending Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and electronic music into his own signature sound.