Afrobeats sensation, Daniel Ikubor aka Rema, has cancelled all engagements for December to focus on his health.

The Calm Down crooner made this known on his Instagram story on Wednesday.

Rema noted that during his years of touring, he had ignored his health, adding that it was time to recuperate.

His terse statement read, “Breaks my heart to say that I won’t be performing anywhere this December. Been years of touring I’ve ignored my health & I need time to recuperate. 2024 we go again love ❤️.”

This comes shortly after Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki unveiled plans to host the Edo-born musical prodigy, Rema, in a grand Homecoming Music Concert on December 21.

Obaseki 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.

The statement quoted Obaseki as saying, “By the grace of God, this Christmas, we will bring Rema home. Rema will have a Homecoming Concert.”

Spotify, on Wednesday, unveiled the 2023 edition of “Wrapped”, its annual recap of listeners’ musical choices.

At the top of the most streamed artistes is Asake, whose tracks Asake’s dominance ‘Lonely At The Top’, ‘2:30’ and ‘Amapiano’ similarly dominated the list of the most streamed tracks for the year.

Also prominent on Spotify for this year is Rema whose collaboration with Selena Gomez for ‘Calm Down’ became the first African-led single to reach a billion streams on the streamer.

The song, Spotify says, is the first by a Nigerian Afrobeats artist to feature on the top 10 chart of most streamed recordings globally on its streamer.

Rema and Asake have also cemented their positions as Afrobeats’ global ambassadors.

Spotify says Rema holds the title of the most globally exported artiste while Asake is captivating audiences across Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo, earning him the coveted title of most streamed artist in each country.

Mohbad secured a position in the top 20 list of the most streamed artistes in Nigeria, something that has been attributed to an increased interest in his music following his untimely death.

His track ‘Ask About Me’ was the top streamed track every day between the 13th and 25th of September.

Ant the top most streamed female artistes on Spotify for 2023 is Ayra Starr who clinched the title of the most streamed female artist in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

See the full lists below.

Most streamed artistes in Nigeria

Asake
Burna Boy
Davido
Seyi Vibez
Omah Lay
Bnxn
Rema
ODUMODUBLVCK
Olamide
Wizkid
Most streamed female artistes in Nigeria

Ayra Starr
Tiwa Savage
Tems
Rihanna
SZA
Billie Eilish
Nicki Minaj
Doja Cat
Libianca
Mercy Chinwo
Most streamed tracks in Nigeria

Lonely At The Top – Asake
GWAGWALADA – Bnxn ft Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez
FEEL – Davido
2:30 – Asake
reason – Omah Lay
Party No Dey Stop (with Zinoleesky) – Adekunle Gold
soso – Omah Lay
DECLAN RICE – ODUMODUBLVCK
KANTE (feat. Fave) – Davido
Amapiano – Asake ft Olamide
Most streamed albums in Nigeria

Timeless – Davido
Work of Art – Asake
Boy Alone – Omah Lay
EZIOKWU – ODUMODUBLVCK
I Told Them – Burna Boy
Rave & Roses Ultra – Rema
Mr. Money With The Vibe – Asake
Sincerely, Benson – Bnxn
Love, Damini – Burna Boy
Unruly – Olamide

A fire outbreak occurred at the Lekki residence of Orezi, the Nigerian singer.

The singer shared a video of the incident via his Instagram page on Tuesday.

The footage released shows the properties of the singer destroyed by the fire.

In a caption, Orezi said he had received a call from his neighbour who informed him that his house was on fire.

He said he initially thought it was a joke but was confronted with the devastating reality after rushing to his house.

“Last night was really hectic. Still trying to figure out and wrap my head around all that happened,” the singer wrote.

“I am sitting here asking myself why me. God is indeed merciful. Can’t thank God enough.

“I was at a meeting in Lekki county last night around 11.48 pm when I got a call from my neighbour, Bobrisky, that my house was on fire. I initially thought this was a joke.

“I was like, ‘Which kind yeye joke bob Dey give me so?’ Immediately I raced down to my house, what I saw broke me.”