Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, surprised residents of his childhood neighbourhood in Benin City, Edo State, on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Fans lined the streets, cheering “Divine, we love you!” as he arrived with his mother.
Rema attended a service at the church where he grew up. During the sermon, the pastor publicly praised him and his family, leaving the congregation visibly moved.
Born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City and originally from Igbanke in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Rema faced early personal losses, including the deaths of his father and elder brother, leaving his mother as his primary guardian.
He discovered his passion for music performing with church youth groups while at Ighile Group of Schools.
Rema’s professional career began in 2019 when a viral freestyle of D’Prince’s song earned him a record deal with Jonzing World, an affiliate of Mavin Records.
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That year, he released his breakthrough single Dumebi. He gained international fame with 2022’s Calm Down, whose remix featuring Selena Gomez reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart.
He has since released acclaimed projects including Rave & Roses (2022) and Heis (2024), establishing himself as one of Afrobeats’ leading global artists.
Sunday’s visit showcased Rema’s enduring ties to his roots and the spiritual values that continue to guide him.