Afrobeats superstar Rema made history on June 8, 2025, as he shut down London’s iconic O2 Arena with a sold-out concert — but the night wasn’t just about his hits and electric performance. In a heartfelt moment that touched fans across generations, Rema paused the show to pay an emotional tribute to one of the genre’s trailblazers: the legendary D’banj.
With the crowd roaring in approval, Rema took time to honor D’banj for his 2012 smash hit “Oliver Twist,” which made major waves in the UK and became the first Nigerian song to enter the UK Official Chart’s Top 10. That moment, Rema emphasized, was a game-changer that helped unlock global recognition for Afrobeats.
“You were one of the first ones to bring Afrobeats to the UK,” Rema said, addressing D’banj directly. “You and Don Jazzy held it down. Y’all opened that door. I appreciate you for life… If you never existed, I would have never existed.”
The moving tribute reminded fans just how deep the roots of Afrobeats run and how today’s global stars stand on the shoulders of pioneers who made the dream possible.
