Nigerian singer and songwriter Rema, born Divine Ikubor, has set a new record on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
His debut album, Rave & Roses, has now spent 170 weeks on the chart, making it the longest-charting African album in the chart’s history.
The achievement surpasses the previous record of 164 weeks held by fellow Nigerian artist Wizkid with his 2020 album, Made in Lagos. Rema, who is 25, reached the milestone this week, according to Billboard chart data.
Other African projects that have recorded extended runs on the World Albums Chart include Tems’ album Born in the Wild, which has spent 79 weeks on the chart; Burna Boy’s Love, Damini with 63 weeks; and Fela Kuti’s compilation album The Best of the Black President, which recorded 45 weeks.
In addition to this achievement, Rema secured his second entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. His song “Secondhand,” a collaboration with American rapper Don Toliver, debuted at number 29.
Meanwhile, Tems also entered the Billboard Hot 100 this week with her new single “What You Need.” The entry brings her total number of Hot 100 appearances to seven, tying her with Burna Boy and the South African band Seether for the highest number of entries by an African act.
