Edo State Hosts Rema’s Homecoming Concert in Benin
… as artiste performs groundbreaking for 6, 0000 capacity dome
Edo State Government recently hosted popular hip hop artiste, Rema to a homecoming concert in Benin
The concert which was held at the Samuel OgbemudiaStadium saw a large turnout of residents including the Executive Governor, Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki also joined Rema to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 6,000 capacity dome which will be built on Ekenhuan Road. The new arena will be called Rema’s Dome in honour of the star’s exploits.
At the concert, it was an opportunity to showcase the power of collaboration as the artiste sang with another Benin Boy, Shallipop in his latest sophomore album” HEIS”.
A cab driver in Benin who was identified as Michael described the concert as the most significant period of sustained ride orders in a long spell.
“I’m really glad that Rema has come into town because things picked up for everybody this weekend,” he says. “There has been so much anticipation for him to come home and give us a show but it also benefits the regular person like me because I’m able to earn more for myself just by Rema being at home. We want more events like this,” he said.
Speaking during the concert, Obaseki noted that the administration is indeed glad to welcome Rema to the state stating that his presence not only serves as inspiration to young ones but a definition of the creative spirit that can be found among any Edo people.
“We are innovators, we are creators, and we are designers. Edo has built a civilization that has spanned time and those creative instincts that flowed in the veins of our ancestors remain with us here today,” he said. “Rema defines the creative spirit and instincts of Edo,” he continued.
While performing his 2023 single, “Holiday”, the artiste said he is committed to living his vision.
“Many times you’ll see a vision that no one else can see and people might doubt you but you need to press on,” he advised. “Just keep moving, keep believing no matter how crazy the dream might be and stay strong.”he said.
Since breaking through in 2019 after being introduced by the Mavin Records powerhouse, Rema has not broken pace and has steadily ascended to superstar status.
In 2023, he became the African artist with the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 song thanks to the global success of the “Calm Down,” remix featuring Selena Gomez and his sold-out show at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in London.
After the global success of “Calm Down,” many artists would understandably want to push their work more towards a Western audience but Rema has refused that impulse, instead further amplifying the culture of Nigeria and,
Beyond the benefits of bump in revenue for many cab drivers,hotels and serviced apartments across Benin City were fully booked as the event witnessed an influx of well-wishers, journalists, content creators, and fans who were visiting to take in the concert.
The homecoming concert itself was an opportunity for Benin-based rising artists to show out and display their talents on a bigger stage as they performed to an audience of over 12,000 people at the Jo Samuel Ogbemudia stadium. Part of the attraction for Rema’s concert was the allure of watching him perform his singles with 2023 breakout stars, Odumodublvckand Shallipopi.
There was also the attraction of performances from MavinRecords stars, with Magixx, Ladipoe, and Crayon taking turns to thrill the audience with performances of their hit singles off the Mavin Chapter X album. Don Jazzy surprised the stadium with a performance of “Dorobucci,” completing the musical tree that gave way to Rema’s rise to stardom.
Beyond immediate gains, Rema’s Homecoming is supposed to herald a new era in entertainment for Benin.
