REMA BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Rema, born Divine Ikubor, is one of the brightest young stars of Nigerian music. The singer, songwriter and rapper became a global sensation with his 2022 smash "Calm Down", a record that carried Afrobeats to the top of charts around the world and made him a household name far beyond Africa.

Rema Biography & Facts

Name: Divine Ikubor
Born: May 1, 2000
Birthplace: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, rapper
Genres: Afrobeats, Afro-rave, African hip-hop, pop rap, trap
Labels: Jonzing World, Mavin Records, Interscope Records
Years Active: 2019–present
Breakthrough: "Dumebi" and the self-titled Rema EP (2019)
Biggest Hit: "Calm Down" (2022)

Early Life

Rema was born Divine Ikubor on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. He grew up with a deep love for music and was honing his craft as a teenager, sharing freestyles and covers online long before the world knew his name.

Career & Rise to Fame

Rema's big break came in 2018, when a freestyle he posted on Instagram over D'Prince's "Gucci Gang" track went viral and caught the attention of D'Prince himself. That moment led to a record deal with Jonzing World, D'Prince's imprint under Mavin Records, in 2019.

His breakthrough arrived the same year with the irresistible single "Dumebi" and his self-titled debut EP, which reached No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria. Another EP cut, "Iron Man", earned a coveted spot on Barack Obama's 2019 summer playlist, signalling that Rema's appeal stretched far beyond Nigeria.

Rema also coined the term "Afrorave" to describe his sound — Afrobeats fused with Arabian and Indian influences — and his devoted fanbase proudly calls itself the "Ravers".

Biggest Songs & Records

In 2022, Rema released "Calm Down", a laid-back anthem that became a worldwide phenomenon. Its remix with Selena Gomez climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a record-setting 58 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, making it one of the biggest Afrobeats songs of all time.

His debut studio album, Rave & Roses (2022), reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200. He followed it with Heis (2024), led by the hit "Benin Boys" with Shallipopi, which earned Rema his first Grammy nomination — Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Other standout Rema songs include "Dumebi", "Iron Man" and "Benin Boys".

Read more Nigerian music stories: our Wizkid biography, Burna Boy biography and Ayra Starr biography, plus the 'Dai Dai' lyrics — Shakira & Burna Boy page.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official music video for "Calm Down" below:

FAQs

What is Rema's real name and age?

Rema's real name is Divine Ikubor. He was born on May 1, 2000, which makes him 26 years old.

What is Afrorave?

Afrorave is the genre tag Rema coined for his own music — Afrobeats blended with Arabian and Indian influences.

What is the Calm Down record?

The "Calm Down" remix with Selena Gomez peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a record-setting 58 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.

Was Rema nominated for a Grammy?

Yes. His 2024 album Heis earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.