For the second consecutive year, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has firmly established himself as one of the most influential figures in global pop culture. Through remarkable musical achievements, record-breaking milestones, and international recognition in 2025, the Afrobeats star has further solidified his status as the genre’s poster boy and earned the title of Entertainer of the Year.

Born on May 1, 2000, in Edo State to the late Justice Ikubor, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former General Manager of Ethiope Publishing Company, Rema’s rise continues to reflect both resilience and excellence. At 25, the singer delivered another defining year marked by historic feats and sustained global dominance.

Rema’s sophomore album, HEIS, remained a global talking point throughout 2025, attracting widespread acclaim and prestigious awards. Legendary singer Angelique Kidjo has described Rema as a true embodiment of Afrobeats’ international success, crediting artists like him for positioning African music at the centre of global culture.

His global smash hit Calm Down, released in 2022 as part of Raves & Roses, continued its extraordinary run in 2025, surpassing the billion-stream milestone for a second time and reinforcing Rema’s lasting global appeal.

The year opened with major wins at the 2025 Trace Awards, where Rema clinched Album of the Year for HEIS and Best Male Artist. He followed this success at the 17th Headies Awards in April, securing Afrobeats Album of the Year for HEIS and Producer of the Year for his song Ozeba.

In the third quarter of 2025, Rema’s single Baby emerged as the most exported Nigerian song of the year, highlighting his continued dominance on international charts. By September, his influence earned him a place on the 2025 TIME100 Next list, which celebrates the world’s most impactful rising figures across various sectors. Rema stood out as the only Nigerian artist on the list, alongside global talents such as football prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Rema’s commercial success was equally impressive. In 2025 alone, he recorded over 800 million Spotify streams, averaging about 3.7 million streams daily. By late 2025, his career streams had surpassed 12 billion globally, including over 5.5 billion streams on Spotify, spanning both lead and featured performances.

Beyond music, Rema made headlines for his lavish lifestyle, acquiring luxury vehicles valued at approximately ₦1 billion, including a Mercedes-Benz G63 and a Lamborghini Urus.

Rema first gained mainstream attention in 2019 with his breakout hit Dumebi, released under Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by Don Jazzy. His debut EP, Rema, topped Apple Music Nigeria’s chart, while Dumebi has since amassed over 81 million views on YouTube.

With consistent chart dominance, cultural impact, and global recognition, Rema’s 2025 run stands as one of the most defining eras in Afrobeats history.