Real name: Divine Joshua Ikubor Stage name: Rema (also known as Remy Boy) Born: May 1, 2000, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Father: Justice Ikubor (late), PDP politician and former General Manager of Ethiope Publishing Company Mother: Hamida Nabbosa Ikubor Siblings: One older brother (late), two younger sisters Anita Ikubor and Blossom Ikubor Tribe: Ika (Igboid), from Igbanke, Orhionmwon, Edo State Religion: Christian Record label: Jonzing World (under Mavin Records and Universal Music Group) Genre: Afrobeats, Afrorave Net worth: Estimated $3 to 5 million (2025)
In 2008, Rema’s father was found dead in a hotel room in Benin City.
He was eight years old.
A few years later, his older brother died too. His mother was left to raise the family alone in a low-income neighbourhood, working every day just to keep them going. By age fifteen, Rema had started thinking of himself as the man of the house. He stole a friend’s laptop in 2017 to raise money for his pregnant mother. He confessed publicly years later and never tried to hide it.
Now he is the only African artist to cross a billion streams on Spotify with a song he led. Barack Obama played his music before he turned twenty. He invented a genre. He sold out arenas on five continents.
The world knows the music. Most people do not know the whole story.
This is the whole story.
The Family Behind the Name
The Ikubor family is from Igbanke, a town in Orhionmwon Local Government Area in Edo State. They are Ika people, an Igboid subgroup native to the Midwestern region of Nigeria.
Rema was born Divine Joshua Ikubor on May 1, 2000. He was born on Workers’ Day. His parents named him Divine eight days after his birth. He was the firstborn son and grew up in Benin City, the capital of Edo State and one of Nigeria’s most historically rich cities.
The family was Christian. They attended church regularly. It was in church that Rema first started singing seriously.
He was not born into hardship at first. His father had a government job and a political profile. There was some stability for a few years. Then 2008 came and everything changed.
Justice Ikubor: The Father Who Died in a Hotel Room
Justice Ikubor was not a small figure in Edo State.
He was a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP, which was the dominant political party in Nigeria at the time. He served as the General Manager of the Ethiope Publishing Company, a state-owned publisher in Edo. He had standing in the community. He had enemies too, as people in politics often do.
In 2008, when Rema was eight years old, Justice Ikubor was found dead in a hotel room in Benin City. The circumstances were never fully resolved. His family has always believed he was murdered by political opponents.
Rema grew up watching his mother fight for justice without ever getting it. He has spoken about his father carefully in interviews, describing the loss as the event that forced him to grow up faster than any child should. He said once that after his father died, he stopped feeling like a child.
In September 2024, when Rema donated N105 million to Christ Embassy Church in Benin City, part of the reason was that the church had supported his family after his father’s death. That was not a PR gesture. It was a debt he felt he owed.
Hamida Nabbosa: The Mother Who Held It All Together
Hamida Nabbosa Ikubor is one of the most important people in this story and one of the least written about.
After Justice died, she was left with children, no partner, and a neighbourhood that was not rich. She worked. She kept the family together. She went to church. She raised Rema and his sisters in a household where faith was structural, not decorative.
Rema has spoken about his mother’s strength repeatedly in interviews. He does not perform gratitude about it. He says it plainly. She was the one who stayed. She was the reason he had a reason to make money when he was still a teenager.
When he started making money from music, the first significant purchase he made was a Lexus RX 350 for her. He was still a teenager. She was driving to church in a car her son bought with rap money.
In 2024, he stood up in her church in Benin City and donated over a hundred million naira. She was in the room.
The Sisters and the Brother He Lost
Rema had an older brother. He lost him a few years after losing his father. The older brother died of medical complications. The specific illness has not been publicly confirmed. What Rema has said is that losing both his father and his brother within a short period forced him to mature completely.
He has two surviving younger sisters, Anita Ikubor and Blossom Ikubor. Both have stayed entirely out of the public eye. They appear occasionally in family social media posts but have not sought any profile of their own.
Rema does not speak about the family pain loudly. He carries it quietly. It comes out in the music instead.
Growing Up in Benin City: Church, Rap Groups and Survival
Benin City shaped him in ways that still show up in the music.
He grew up in a low-income neighbourhood. He attended Ighile Group of Schools for both his primary and secondary education. He was not a disruptive student. He was a quiet one who was paying far more attention to music than to the curriculum.
He started singing in church. Nigerian Pentecostal church culture is genuinely musical. The choir, the praise sessions, the moments of freestyle worship. Rema absorbed all of it from a young age without ever thinking of it as formal training.
He was fifteen when he started taking music seriously as a career. At that age, most kids in his neighbourhood were not thinking about record deals. He was.
He formed a rap group with his childhood friend Alpha P. They called it RNA.
He also moved briefly to Ghana at some point during his teenage years, looking for better opportunities. It did not work out. He came back to Nigeria and kept going.
The Laptop He Stole and the Confession He Made
In 2017, Rema was seventeen years old. His mother was pregnant. The family had no money.
He stole a laptop belonging to his friend Eric. He used it to raise money. His mother got through the pregnancy.
Years later, after he was famous, he confessed on social media. He acknowledged what he had done and apologised to Eric directly. He did not try to frame it as a relatable hustle story or turn it into a redemption arc. He just told the truth about what happened and why.
It is one of the more honest things a Nigerian pop star has said publicly. He had every reason to stay quiet about it. He didn’t.
RNA, Alpha P and the Rap Group Before the Fame
RNA was the rap group Rema formed with his childhood friend Alpha P.
They competed in talent competitions in Benin City and won the second season of Pikolo’s Dream Alive talent contest. The prize was a record deal with Peak Entertainment. They recorded a debut single called “Mercy” at Dream Alive Studio in Benin City. A music video was directed by Whyte House Pictures.
It was not a major success. But it was practice. It showed Rema what it felt like to record in a proper studio, to perform for a real audience, to take music from an idea to a finished product.
Alpha P continued his music career independently after Rema moved to Lagos. They remained friends.
The Instagram Freestyle That Changed His Life
In 2018, Rema posted a freestyle video on Instagram.
He rapped over D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang.” He was eighteen years old, still in Benin City, still nobody in particular. But he could do something most teenagers in Nigeria could not do. He had timing, tone, and a voice that did not sound like anyone else.
D’Prince saw the video. D’Prince is a Nigerian artist and record executive and also the younger brother of Don Jazzy, the founder of Mavin Records. He watched the freestyle, made a decision, and flew Rema to Lagos.
One freestyle. One flight. That was how it started.
D’Prince, Don Jazzy and Jonzing World
D’Prince founded Jonzing World as an imprint under the Mavin Records umbrella, built to sign young talent early and develop them properly before integrating them fully into the Mavin ecosystem.
Rema was Jonzing World’s first major signing in 2019.
Don Jazzy came to the table quickly. He saw what D’Prince saw. He said publicly that the young artist had a unique gift and a standing in Afrobeats unlike anyone in the new generation. That was not hype for a press release. Don Jazzy does not say that about everyone.
Rema was nineteen years old. He had never lived in Lagos. He had never been in a professional studio environment for an extended period. He was a teenager from Benin City where his father had been murdered and his mother had worked to keep the lights on.
He went straight to work.
2019: Dumebi, Obama’s Playlist and a Teenager Announcing Himself
Rema’s self-titled debut EP came out in 2019 and hit number one on Apple Music Nigeria on the day of release.
The standout track was “Dumebi.” Released on May 21, 2019, with a video directed by Ademola Falomo, it hit 60 million views on YouTube. It sounded like nothing else on Nigerian radio at that moment and it was still instantly popular.
Then came “Iron Man.”
It was calm, melodic, and delivered with an ease that made it feel personal. In summer 2019, Barack Obama included “Iron Man” on his annual summer playlist. Rema was nineteen. He had been a professional artist for a few months. Barack Obama was playing his music.
That placement reached listeners in Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo who had no prior relationship with Nigerian music.
Later that year he won Next Rated at the Headies Awards, the most prestigious recognition for new artists in Nigerian music, and received a GAC SUV as part of the prize.
What Is Afrorave? How Rema Built His Own Genre
Rema does not make standard Afrobeats. He never has.
He coined and developed a sound he calls Afrorave. It blends the rhythm and energy of Afrobeats with Arabian music influences, Indian musical elements, electronic production, and a quality that is easier to feel than describe. His songs do not just make you want to dance. They make you feel like you are inside something.
He has described Afrorave as music designed for a state of mind rather than just a dancefloor. The label was not a marketing decision. It was a declaration that he was doing something specific and different and wanted people to understand what they were hearing.
Rave and Roses: The Album That Set Up Everything
Rema’s debut studio album Rave and Roses came out on March 25, 2022.
It was his most complete statement of artistic intent up to that point. Eleven tracks. Production that moved between cinematic and intimate. Chris Brown appeared on “Time N Affection,” which signalled clearly that American superstars were willing to show up on his project rather than the other way around.
The album peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200, a genuinely significant chart position for a debut Afrobeats album from a Nigerian artist. It contained “Calm Down.”
Calm Down: The Song That Broke Every Record
“Calm Down” was released on February 11, 2022 as the second single from Rave and Roses.
Rema told Billboard the origin story. He was at a party, he saw a girl in yellow, her friends would not let him close, and he thought “just calm down.” He went home and turned the frustration into a song.
The original version did well. Then in August 2022, a remix featuring Selena Gomez was released through Jonzing World, Mavin Records, and Interscope Records. Everything changed.
The remix peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent 58 weeks at the top of the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, the longest run in that chart’s history. It reached number one on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, topped Pop Airplay for two weeks, Rhythmic Airplay for four weeks, and World Digital Song Sales for 32 weeks. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and spent 27 non-consecutive weeks in the UK top ten. It reached number one in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“Calm Down” crossed one billion streams on Spotify. Rema became the first leading African artist to achieve that milestone with a song he fronted himself.
It won Best Afrobeats Song at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, Best Collaboration at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards, and Best Afrobeats at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
It became the highest-charting song ever led by an Afrobeats artist and the most successful Afropop crossover record ever made at the time of its release.
He was 22 years old when it came out.
HEIS: The Album, the Grammy Nomination and the Edo Roots
Rema’s second studio album HEIS was released on July 10, 2024.
The title comes from the Greek word for “numeral one.” He called it HEIS to assert ownership of his place in music. He was claiming the title of the best, not asking for it.
The album has eleven tracks featuring Shallipopi on “Benin Boys” and ODUMODUBLVCK on “War Machine.” The production is darker and more drum-driven than Rave and Roses. It leans deeper into his Edo heritage. The references to Benin City culture and his own community are more direct than anything he had done before.
It debuted at number two in Nigeria, eventually reached number one, and spent 29 weeks on the chart with over 104 million streams domestically. It reached number seven on Billboard’s World Albums chart.
HEIS was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025. He joined Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Tems as the only Afrobeats artists to receive album nominations in Grammy history. He was 24 years old and the youngest of the group.
The N105 Million Church Donation
In September 2024, Rema attended a Sunday service at Christ Embassy Church in Benin City and donated N105 million.
He did not announce it in advance. He did not do a press run afterwards. He stood up in the church where his family had been supported after his father’s death and gave back.
The church had looked after his mother when Justice Ikubor died and the household fell apart. They were there when she was raising children alone with no income and no certainty. The donation acknowledged that.
N105 million was roughly $65,000 to $70,000 at 2024 exchange rates. He gave it in a church in Benin City, not at a gala in Los Angeles.
Controversies and Public Disputes
Rema has not been without conflict in his career.
In September 2020, he publicly accused DJ Neptune on Twitter of releasing a song called “For You” without his consent. The track appeared on DJ Neptune’s Greatness 2.0 album. Rema said he had not approved the release. The dispute was public but both parties eventually moved past it.
In 2021, he spoke out about an unnamed individual attempting to use the Afrorave name commercially without his involvement. He was protective of the genre identity he had built.
He has also spoken broadly about artist exploitation in the Nigerian music industry and the importance of artists understanding their contracts and owning their work.
None of these controversies seriously damaged his career. He handled them publicly, said what he felt, and moved on.
Rema’s Relationship Status and Personal Life
Rema does not talk about his romantic life in detail.
He has been linked to Justine Skye, an American singer. The two were photographed together and their association generated significant media attention in 2024 and 2025. Neither confirmed nor denied the relationship formally.
As of May 2026, no relationship has been officially confirmed.
Beyond the relationship speculation, Rema has been consistent about who he is outside the music. He is not a party person. He prefers staying home. He is a text person rather than a phone call person. He prefers Apple devices. He can only cook fries, eggs, and noodles, and he has said this without embarrassment. His childhood worst cinema experience was watching a Benin movie called Ozebba because the characters frightened him.
He has over 20 tattoos. Each one, he says, has specific personal meaning.
He trains regularly and takes his physical conditioning seriously as part of his stage performance preparation.
He is not married and has no children as of May 2026.
Education: University of Lagos and the Degree He Wants to Finish
In 2022, Rema enrolled at the University of Lagos to study Creative Arts.
He announced the enrollment on Twitter and framed it clearly as his mother’s dream for him. He was not doing it for the credential. He was doing it because she wanted it for him.
Ongoing disruptions to the Nigerian university system interrupted his studies. He has said he intends to go back and complete the degree. Whether that happens while he is releasing music at his current level is an open question.
Rema’s Net Worth, Cars and What He Owns
Rema’s net worth is estimated at between $3 and $5 million as of 2025.
“Calm Down” alone generated over $3 million in streaming royalties from its 1.5 billion YouTube views and over one billion Spotify streams. That is one song in a catalogue that spans multiple EPs, two full studio albums, and dozens of individual releases.
His income comes from streaming royalties, live performance fees from arena tours across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, a brand endorsement partnership with Pepsi alongside Ayra Starr from 2021, and other commercial deals.
His vehicles include a Lexus RX 350 bought for his mother, a GAC SUV received for winning Next Rated at the 2019 Headies, and a BMW gifted by the BMW Club of Nigeria.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | Divine Joshua Ikubor |
| Born | May 1, 2000, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Father | Justice Ikubor (late), PDP politician and former GM of Ethiope Publishing Company |
| Mother | Hamida Nabbosa Ikubor |
| Siblings | One older brother (late), Anita Ikubor (sister), Blossom Ikubor (sister) |
| Tribe | Ika (Igboid), from Igbanke, Orhionmwon, Edo State |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Record label | Jonzing World (Mavin Records and Universal Music Group) |
| Genre | Afrobeats, Afrorave |
| Debut EP | Rema (2019) |
| Albums | Rave and Roses (2022), HEIS (2024) |
| Biggest song | Calm Down with Selena Gomez, No. 3 Billboard Hot 100, 58 weeks No. 1 US Afrobeats |
| Grammy nomination | Best Global Music Album, 67th Grammy Awards 2025, for HEIS |
| Education | Ighile Group of Schools, Benin City; enrolled University of Lagos, Creative Arts |
| Net worth | $3 to 5 million (2025 estimate) |
| Relationship status | Single (no confirmed relationship as of May 2026) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rema’s real name? Rema’s real name is Divine Joshua Ikubor. He was born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. His parents named him Divine eight days after his birth. He adopted the stage name Rema when he began his professional music career and is also sometimes referred to as Remy Boy.
What happened to Rema’s father? Rema’s father, Justice Ikubor, was a senior PDP politician and the former General Manager of the Ethiope Publishing Company in Edo State. He was found dead in a hotel room in Benin City in 2008, when Rema was eight years old. The circumstances were never officially resolved. The family believes he was murdered by political opponents. Rema has described this as the event that fundamentally changed his childhood.
Does Rema have siblings? Yes. He had an older brother who died of medical complications a few years after their father passed away. He has two younger sisters, Anita Ikubor and Blossom Ikubor, both of whom live private lives away from the entertainment industry.
Who discovered Rema? D’Prince, a Nigerian artist and record executive and the younger brother of Don Jazzy, discovered Rema after watching a freestyle video he posted on Instagram in 2018. Rema rapped over D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang.” D’Prince flew him to Lagos and signed him to Jonzing World, an imprint under Mavin Records.
Did Rema really steal a laptop? Yes. Rema confessed publicly to stealing a laptop belonging to his friend Eric in 2017 when he was seventeen years old. He did it to raise money for his pregnant mother during a period when the family had no income. He apologised to Eric publicly after becoming famous and did not try to hide or romanticise the story.
What is Afrorave? Afrorave is the genre Rema coined and developed to describe his music. It blends core Afrobeats rhythms with Arabian and Indian musical influences, electronic production, and a cinematic, atmospheric quality distinct from standard Afrobeats. He has described it as music designed for a specific emotional state rather than just a dancefloor. He uses the term to differentiate his work from the broader Afrobeats category.
How big was Calm Down? The remix with Selena Gomez reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2023. It spent 58 weeks at the top of the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, the longest run in that chart’s history. It crossed one billion streams on Spotify, making Rema the first leading African artist to achieve that milestone with a song he fronted. It topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, spent 27 weeks in the UK singles top ten, and reached number one in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Did Rema get a Grammy nomination? Yes. His second album HEIS was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025. He was 24 years old, the youngest Afrobeats artist ever to receive an album nomination at the Grammys. He joined Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Tems as the only Afrobeats acts to earn album nominations in Grammy history.
Why did Rema donate N105 million to a church? In September 2024, Rema donated N105 million to Christ Embassy Church in Benin City during a Sunday service. He explained that the church had supported his family after his father’s murder left them in financial difficulty. It was a personal expression of gratitude to an institution that had been there for his mother when she needed it most.
Is Rema in a relationship? As of May 2026, no relationship has been publicly confirmed. He has been linked to American singer Justine Skye in 2024 and 2025 but neither confirmed nor denied the connection formally. He is not married and has no children.
What is Rema studying? Rema enrolled at the University of Lagos to study Creative Arts in 2022. He announced the enrollment on Twitter, saying it was his mother’s dream for him to have a degree. Industrial disruptions to the Nigerian university system interrupted his studies. He has said he intends to return and complete the degree.
Last updated: May 2026. Sources include Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, Billboard, BBC, Legit.ng, Pulse Nigeria, EssentiallySports, Dockaysworld, WikiBio, The Famous Naija, and Gistreel.
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