Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has been recognised in the 2025 TIME100 Next list, which spotlights the world’s most influential rising stars.

The list, unveiled on Tuesday, features trailblazers across music, film, sports, science, politics, and philanthropy.

Rema stands out as the only African artist honoured this year, further cementing his global impact.

His profile was written by Grammy-winning legend Angélique Kidjo, who praised the 24-year-old for carrying Afrobeats to new heights.

“The young Nigerian superstar has accomplished so much: ‘Calm Down’ has joined the billion-streams club twice over,” Kidjo wrote.

“Rema is the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats. Thanks to artists like him, African music is at the forefront of global culture.”

Other names on this year’s list include Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, and several innovators and leaders shaping the future across industries.

Rema’s recognition follows the unprecedented success of his hit “Calm Down”, which has broken multiple streaming records and topped charts worldwide, reinforcing his place as one of Afrobeats’ brightest stars on the global stage.