Rema And Burna Boy Win Big At The Billboard Music Awards

Nigerian Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy and Rema took home gongs for Best Afrobeats Artist and Top Afrobeats Song respectively at the awards ceremony held on Sunday (19.11.2023).

Burna Boy, a trailblazer in the Afrobeats scene, proudly accepted the award for Best Afrobeats Artist, a newly-introduced category that solidifies the genre’s growing influence on the international stage.

In his gracious acceptance speech, Burna Boy expressed his gratitude, saying, “Big up, Billboard Music Awards. Big up to everyone involved. This is dedicated to Africa and every artist coming out of Africa now. This is for you, and yeah, man, the future’s bright. You guys are gonna see the vision. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but you’re gonna see the whole vision soon.”

Adding to the night’s triumphs, Rema secured the Top Afrobeats Song award for his global hit ‘Calm Down,’ featuring the talented US singer Selena Gomez. This accolade recognizes the song’s impact across various platforms, including digital sales, streaming numbers, radio airplay, and social engagement.

Both Burna Boy and Rema’s achievements at the Billboard Music Awards come on the heels of their highly successful headline shows as part of their respective world tours. Rema, on November 14, made history as the latest Afrobeats star to sell out the iconic O2 Arena in London, UK, with a capacity crowd of 20,000. Simultaneously, Burna Boy electrified the Toyota Center in Houston, US, as part of his 16-city marathon tour in support of his latest album, ‘I Told Them.’

While the night’s leading recipient was US artist Morgan Wallen with an impressive 11 victories, Taylor Swift, an icon among female artists, claimed the most accolades with 10 prizes, including the prestigious Top Artist Award.