Rema makes history as first Nigerian to perform at Ballon d’Or Ceremony

Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter who gained initial recognition with the release of “Dumebi” in 2019 Divine Ikubor, known professionally as Rema has made history as the first African artiste to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The 23-year-old performed at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, France, on Monday night. Rema thrilled the audience with a performance of his hit song, ‘Calm Down.

During the ceremony in Paris, Rema delivered an electrifying performance that left the audience in awe, showcasing his incredible talent and stage presence.

Attendees were left with a lasting impression of his unique blend of Afrobeat and contemporary sounds, solidifying his status as one of Nigeria’s most promising musical exports.

Rema was invited to perform his hit song ‘Calm Down’ after Manchester City won the prize for Club of the Season.

Rema stepped off the stage to shake hands with the many football stars sitting in the front row including Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr.

Social media users were excited to see Rema perform his famous song at the ceremony.

“Nigeria to the world, Africa to the world proud of you Rema,” Says Mustapha Mayowa on X (formerly known as Twitter).

In the realm of football, the Ballon d’Or is a highly regarded individual honour that was first presented in 1956 by France Football magazine. Argentina’s success at the 2022 World Cup contributed to Lionel Messi’s eighth men’s title win in his incredible career.

Watch Rema at ballon d or full performance here

CALM DOWN!@heisrema takes on the stage of the Ballon d’Or! 🎵#ballondor pic.twitter.com/EPidcd8ZMQ

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023