Nigerian artist Rema and American singer Selena Gomez won the award for “Best Afrobeats” song at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
The award was given for their collaboration on the hit song “Calm Down,” which has garnered over a billion streams on Spotify.
During his acceptance speech at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, Rema expressed gratitude to the pioneers of Afrobeats, including Fela Kuti, 2Baba, and D’banj, for their influence on his music career. He also acknowledged the contributions of contemporary Afrobeats artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and others.
Selena Gomez, in her brief speech, thanked Rema for choosing her to be a part of the song and expressed her appreciation for the support from fans.
The recognition at the MTV VMAs highlights the global appeal of Afrobeats music and its impact on the international music scene.
