Nigerian singer Rema delivered an impassioned speech upon receiving the award for Best Afrobeats at the MTV Video Music Awards, a new category introduced for his remixed single “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez.
In a competitive field that included renowned Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Fire Boy, Ayra Starr, and Labianca, Rema emerged victorious at the award ceremony held on Tuesday night, September 12, in Newark, New Jersey. Comedian Tiffany Haddish had the honor of presenting the award to Rema and Gomez for their chart-topping track “Calm Down.”
In his acceptance speech, Rema acknowledged the contributions of pioneers and trailblazers like the late Fela Kuti, Don Jazzy, and D’Prince (his label heads), as well as Tuface Idibia, D’Banj, Timaya, Runtown, Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, for paving the way for young artists like himself.
This victory adds to Rema’s recent historic achievement as the first African artist to surpass a billion streams on Spotify with his hit “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, which he accomplished over the weekend.
