Rema reflects on being mocked early in his career and now praised on global stages.
His India tour proves perseverance and originality can turn trolls into cheering fans.
Award-winning Afrobeats star Rema has opened up about his journey from being mocked and criticized to achieving international acclaim, noting that what once drew ridicule has now become a source of success.
In a recent interview, the “Calm Down” hitmaker reflected on his groundbreaking tour in India, sharing how the criticism he faced early in his career could have derailed his progress if he had let it.
“It’s just beautiful to see something that people trolled me for, criticized me for… and now I’m benefitting from that,” Rema said. “Imagine if I stopped. Imagine if I listened to the trolls and said, ‘Maybe I should switch it off.’ Four years later, it’s paying off and there’s still more to come.”
Rema emphasized that his recent performances in India, including a show at the high-profile Ambani wedding, represent more than just a moment of celebration. According to him, the tour signifies a broader cultural acceptance of Afrobeats in new territories, especially in a market as massive as India.
“It’s a big, huge deal,” he continued. “It’s not just about the wedding; it’s about the reception, the welcome of the music. I’m actually the first from Afrobeats to tour India. And I came straight from Africa.”
Now hailed as one of the genre’s global ambassadors, Rema’s journey highlights how perseverance and originality can eventually win over doubters. What started as unconventional and even laughable to some has evolved into a global movement with Rema at the forefront, breaking boundaries and expanding Afrobeats into new cultural landscapes.
His success story continues to inspire young artists, proving that staying true to one’s unique sound can ultimately lead to international breakthroughs.
