Rema Biography: Age, Parents, Edo Roots & “Calm Down” Rise

Rema, born Divine Ikubor, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper whose restless blend of Afrobeats, trap, pop and regional influences helped define a younger global era of African music. Raised in Benin City, he broke through in 2019 with “Dumebi,” then reached a far wider audience through Rave & Roses and “Calm Down,” including its hit remix with Selena Gomez.

His self-described Afrorave approach became darker and more culturally assertive on HEIS, the album that earned his first Grammy nomination. Rema shares official updates through his verified X account, while his music continues to link Edo identity, youth culture and international pop.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Divine Ikubor was born on May 1, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. He is 26 years old as of July 21, 2026. His full name is often reported as Divine Joshua Ikubor, but his label’s official artist profile uses the shorter form Divine Ikubor.

Music first became serious in church. Rema performed gospel rap and learned to hold an audience before entering a professional studio. In a 2024 interview reported by Channels Television, he said, “It started from the church.” He later absorbed trap, hip-hop, R&B and pop through relatives and friends.

His childhood also carried heavy loss. Rema’s father died when he was eight, and his older brother died in 2015. A detailed Pitchfork interview about his early life reported that his mother traded wholesale goods and that Rema took work to help the family.

He told the publication:

Rema’s mother has largely remained outside public life, and reliable sources do not consistently publish her name. His late father is widely identified as Justice Ikubor, a former Edo State political figure and publishing-company manager. This biography avoids repeating unverified theories about his death.