Rema seems to know exactly what he’s doing, even when he won’t explain himself. The Nigerian singer and rapper moves with intention; he is acutely aware of how he is perceived, and he is more than willing to let his plan reveal itself to sceptics when his work proves them wrong. He doesn’t like to talk about himself. That’s intentional too. He likes the focus on his music, and with good reason: he has formulated a sound that speaks for itself. As we chat about his perpetual drive, he is taking a short break from shooting videos in Los Angeles to get a new tattoo. Soft-spoken but firmly resolved, he only ever gets animated speaking on the trails that he is blazing for others, both those that came before him and those who will come after. “A legend talked to me and he said, ‘Oh, I really like what you did for Afrobeats. A lot of people will not tell you this, but you helped me,’” he says. “It’s all about who’s going to say the truth and who’s not going to say the truth. I don’t care because I can see the back end, so I already know my impact.”

At only 23, Rema is already one of Afropop’s greatest ambassadors, a next gen innovator and one of the biggest artists on the planet. He spent his summer playing festivals across Europe and touring America. More than once, he talks about his shows as a symbol of his expanding influence, as a means to represent where he comes from. Culture has power. Just as the Korean Wave has increased South Korea’s international standing, the pop music of Nigeria is beginning to have a similar effect. To Rema, every new place that his music touches is a greater win for Nigeria, and for Africa.