Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema has announced that he will not be performing at any event this December due to health reasons.
The singer, whose real name is Daniel Ikubor, revealed this on his Instagram story on Wednesday, saying that he needed time to recuperate after years of touring.
“I’ve ignored my health, & I need time to recuperate. 2024, we go again, love ❤️,” he wrote.
Rema’s decision comes as a disappointment to his fans, especially those in his home state of Edo, where the governor, Godwin Obaseki, had planned to host him in a grand homecoming music concert on December 21.
Obaseki had expressed his excitement to bring Rema back to his roots while speaking to youths at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City, the state capital, on Wednesday, according to a statement by the state government.
“By the grace of God, this Christmas, we will bring Rema home. Rema will have a homecoming concert,” Obaseki said.
Rema, who hails from Edo State, is one of the most popular and successful Nigerian artists of his generation.
He rose to fame in 2019 with hit songs like “Dumebi”, “Iron Man” and “Bad Commando”. He has won several awards, including the Next Rated Award at the 2019 Headies, the Best New Act Award at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards, and the Best Male West Africa Award at the 2020 African Muzik Magazine Awards. He has also been nominated for the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards and the 2021 BET Awards.