During his sold-out show at London’s iconic O2 Arena on Sunday, Nigerian music star Rema took a moment to honour veteran singer D’banj, acknowledging his major influence on the rise of Afrobeats on the global stage.
Rema brought D’banj on stage to the delight of the crowd and gave a heartfelt speech, appreciating him for paving the way for the new generation of artists.
“First of all, I want to appreciate you for opening the doors. We [the new generational artists] do not do it alone,” Rema said, referring to the role D’banj and others played in making Afrobeats a global sound. “You were one of the first ones to bring Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door.”
He didn’t stop there. Deeply emotional, Rema added, “I appreciate you for life. I love you from the bottom of my heart. If you never existed, I would have never existed.”
D’banj made history in 2012 when his hit single Oliver Twist became the first Nigerian song to break into the UK’s Official Chart top 10 — a moment many regard as a breakthrough for the genre internationally.
Rema’s tribute has since drawn widespread praise online, with fans commending him for showing gratitude to one of the industry’s trailblazers. The gesture highlighted the importance of recognising the pioneers who helped shape the path for Afrobeats’ global success.
