Rema Pays Tribute to D’banj at Sold-Out O2 Arena Concert, Credits Him for Global Rise of Afrobeats
Nigerian music sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, took a moment during his sold-out performance at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday night to pay heartfelt tribute to Afrobeat pioneer, D’banj.
Bringing the veteran artist on stage to rapturous applause, Rema hailed D’banj as one of the earliest trailblazers who helped export the Afrobeat sound to international audiences, particularly the United Kingdom.
“You were one of the first to bring Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door,” Rema said, addressing D’banj in front of thousands of fans.
D’banj, whose 2012 global hit “Oliver Twist” became the first Nigerian song to break into the UK Official Chart Top 10, was credited by Rema for paving the way for a new generation of Afrobeat stars. The monumental success of the track marked a turning point for Nigerian music on the international stage, especially in the UK.
Rema also gave a nod to renowned producer and Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy, acknowledging his foundational role in shaping and promoting Afrobeat music beyond African borders.
“We the new generational artists did not do it alone,” Rema said emotionally. “I appreciate you for life. I love you from the bottom of my heart. If you never existed, I would have never existed.”
The moving tribute underscored a symbolic moment of generational unity between Afrobeat pioneers and the new wave of artists, reinforcing the genre’s rapid ascent on the global music scene.