On a momentous night for African music, Nigerian superstars Rema and Burna Boy made history at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, becoming the first recipients in the newly established Afrobeats categories.
Rema and American pop icon Selena Gomez won the “Best Afrobeats Song” category for their collaborative hit, “Calm Down.”
In his acceptance speech, Rema expressed his gratitude, stating, “This recognition for ‘Calm Down’ is a testament to unity and the worldwide dominance of Afrobeats. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Selena Gomez, Mavin Records, Jonzing World, and our incredible fans who have supported us throughout this journey. A big thank you to Billboard – I’m truly grateful. From Nigeria, with love, Rema.”
Echoing Rema’s sentiments, Selena Gomez acknowledged the collaborative effort and expressed her appreciation in her acceptance speech, saying, “Thank you all so much for this award. This genuinely belongs to Rema. He invited me to be a part of this incredible song. So, I want to thank him and all of you for streaming, listening, and wishing we could be here. But thank you!”
Burna Boy further added to the night’s triumphs, clinching the “Top Afrobeats Artist” award.