Afrobeats Star Rema Shines at 2023 Ballon d’Or with “Calm Down” Performance
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Rema, continues to set new milestones in his ever-evolving career, and he recently added another feather to his cap with a remarkable performance of his hit song, “Calm Down,” at the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
This star-studded event, graced by some of the biggest names in football, both past and present, witnessed Rema, the Jonzing World star, taking center stage in a unique all-black fashion ensemble to perform his global hit, “Calm Down.”
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With two dancers flanking him on either side, Rema serenaded the audience with a thrilling mid-tempo rendition of the song, which has garnered over 1 billion streams on Spotify. Rema’s performance marked a historic moment as he became the first African artist to grace the Ballon d’Or stage, further solidifying Afrobeats’ exciting connection with global sporting events.
In addition to this remarkable performance, Rema, alongside American pop star Selena Gomez, secured a victory at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards for their remix of “Calm Down.” The duo clinched the award in the inaugural Best Afrobeats category, acknowledging the global impact of their chart-topping track. “Calm Down” initially released on February 11, 2022, as the second single from Rema’s debut studio album, “Rave & Roses.” The remix with Selena Gomez, which dropped on August 25, 2022, has continued to be a worldwide sensation, propelling Rema to his first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit.
Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen achieved a significant milestone at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, as he became the highest-ranked Nigerian player, securing an impressive 8th-place finish. Osimhen’s scintillating performances for both his club and country have solidified his status as the highest-ranked African player at this year’s Ballon d’Or edition, marking a proud moment for Nigerian football.
