Video: From online hate to historic India tour, Rema reflects on journey from criticism to global stardom

Abdullateef Fowewe

Afrobeats sensation, Rema has candidly shared his remarkable transformation from being the target of online trolls and harsh criticism to achieving worldwide stardom.

He highlighted his groundbreaking tour in India as a pivotal moment that marked his expanding global influence.

In a heartfelt interview, the award-winning artist expressed deep gratitude for having the resilience to rise above early negativity.

He acknowledged that succumbing to the criticism could have severely hindered his ambitions.

Instead, Rema credited these challenges as the driving force behind his unwavering determination and the foundation of his success story.

He said, “And it’s just beautiful to see something that people trolled me for, criticised me for. And, you know, I’m benefiting from that. It’s like, imagine if I stopped. Imagine if I actually listened to the trolls and was like, oh, I think I should switch it off.

“You know, imagine. And, like, what, four years later, it paid and it paid. And more to come. You know, because it’s a huge territory, right? And I’m actually the first person to actually tour India. You know, from the Afrobeats, basically. And I even came from Africa, if I’m not wrong, or if I’m mistaken, forgive me. But it’s a big, huge deal. And it’s not just about the wedding, it’s just about the reception”.

Four years after facing doubts over his distinct sound, Rema has risen as a trailblazer in the Afrobeats scene poised to become the first artist from the genre to tour India.

His visit, which featured a performance at the high-profile Ambani wedding, marks more than just a single appearance.