At the MTV Video Music Awards, Nigerian musician Rema, who won the Best Afrobeats category for his remixed song "Calm Down" starring Selena Gomez, gave a powerful speech.
At the award presentation on Tuesday, September 12 in Newark, New Jersey, he defeated rivals in the Afrobeats scene, including Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Fire Boy, Ayra Starr, and Labianca, to win the category.
Comedian Tiffany Haddish gave Rema and Gomez the award for their huge smash song "Calm Down."
Rema acknowledged the influence of trailblazers and pioneers like as the late Fela Kuti, Don Jazzy and D'Prince (the heads of his label), Tuface Idibia, D'Banj, Timaya, Runtown, Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy in his acceptance speech.
Watch the video below…
Rema’s win follows his historic achievement as the first African artist to reach a billion streams on Spotify with “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez over the weekend.