Rema has officially joined the ranks of global changemakers as he makes the 2025 TIME100 Next list, a recognition reserved for the world’s most promising rising stars shaping the future.
The Afrobeats sensation is the only Nigerian artist featured this year, with his profile penned by Grammy legend Angélique Kidjo.
Explaining her choice, Kidjo wrote: “With the global wave of African music, I wanted to spotlight contemporary voices. Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ won me over—it’s fresh, rooted in Africa, yet universally irresistible. His achievements are remarkable: multiple billion-stream milestones, Grammy nods, and stadium performances. Rema embodies the global rise of Afrobeats.”
Since his breakout hit Dumebi in 2019, the 25-year-old star has gone from local sensation to international powerhouse. Signed under Mavin Records, Rema has consistently pushed Afrobeats into new territory with record-breaking streams, unforgettable performances, and growing accolades.
His smash hit Calm Down continues to dominate charts worldwide, cementing him as one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports. His sophomore album HEIS also earned him his first Grammy nomination, with nods in both Best Global Music Album and Best African Music categories.
The 2025 TIME100 Next list celebrates innovators across industries, from music and sports to science and tech. Alongside Rema, honourees include rapper GloRilla, actress Teyana Taylor, football prodigy Lamine Yamal, and Nigerian-American visual artist Toyin Ojih Odutola, recognised for her groundbreaking storytelling through art.
TIME described the honourees as leaders shaping what comes next, blending creativity, vision, and impact.
For Rema, this moment is more than an accolade—it’s a stamp of his place in global culture, proving that Afrobeats isn’t just a genre, but a movement.
