Nigerian music star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, paid a heartfelt tribute to Afrobeats legend D’banj during his sold-out concert at the iconic O2 Arena in London on Sunday, acknowledging the veteran’s pivotal role in bringing Afrobeats to global recognition.
During a powerful moment in the show, Rema invited D’banj on stage and publicly expressed his admiration and gratitude, saying, “If you never existed, I would have never existed.”
The tribute highlighted the influence of D’banj’s 2012 hit “Oliver Twist”, which made history as the first Nigerian song to enter the UK Official Chart’s top 10. Rema credited that milestone as a major breakthrough that opened international doors for the genre.
“You were one of the first ones to bring Afrobeats to the UK,” Rema said to D’banj in front of the cheering crowd. “You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door. I appreciate you for life.”
He praised D’banj and long-time collaborator Don Jazzy for laying the foundation upon which the new generation of Afrobeats stars now builds.
The moment was widely applauded by fans and industry watchers alike, as Rema, one of Afrobeats’ biggest contemporary exports, acknowledged the collective effort behind the genre’s global rise.
The performance at the 20,000-capacity venue marks yet another milestone in Rema’s soaring career, as he continues to expand Afrobeats’ reach to international audiences.
