By Elijah Odhiambo
Nigerian singer and rapper, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has entered into the Guinness World Book of Records.
The Benin-born music star achieved the feat with his global hit song ‘Calm Down’ which made history as the First No.1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart (the world’s first regional streaming chart).
Guinness World Record recognised the singer for achieving the historic feat in a statement on its website recently.
According to the statement, Rema was being recognised for securing the first number 1 hit on the world’s first regional streaming chart and first-ever official chart in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ debuted at No. 1 when the MENA Chart was launched by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on November 29, 2022.
The song topped the chart for over two months.
The MENA chart was launched in 2020 by the music streaming service, Anghami, in partnership with the Guinness World Records, to showcase the best music from the Middle East and North Africa.
The chart ranks the most popular songs based on streaming data from Anghami’s platform, which is one of the largest in the region.
Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ was released in 2018 as part of his debut self-titled EP, which was well-received by fans and critics alike. The song features a catchy Afrobeat rhythm and showcases Rema’s signature blend of singing and rapping.
The track’s success on Anghami’s platform was driven by its popularity in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Rema’s achievement is particularly noteworthy because he is not from the MENA region. His success on the chart is a testament to the power of music to transcend geographical boundaries and connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
It also highlights the increasing global reach of African music, which has been gaining popularity in recent years thanks to artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido.
Rema’s success on the MENA chart is just the latest in a string of achievements for the young artist. He burst onto the scene in 2019 with his breakout hit ‘Iron Man’, which garnered critical acclaim and earned him a spot on former U.S. President Barack Obama’s summer playlist. He has since released several other hit songs and has collaborated with a range of artists from across the globe.
He now joins Femi Kuti and Wizkid as Nigerian musicians with World Guinness records.
