Rema Walks Off Stage at Dreamville Fest After Sound Challenges

Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, best known as Rema, was one of the performers of J Cole’s 2024 Dreamville Festival, alongside other international artists like SZA, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, and J Cole himself. 

The yearly event held at Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park, North Carolina, on April 6 and 7 saw thousands of music fans from around the country.

Rema came on stage to perform on the second day and kicked off with his hit single ‘Calm Down’ when the sound equipment began to experience delayed feedback, disrupting his performance.

 Rema, apparently enraged, abruptly halted his act before confronting those in control of the sound. 

• “There’s too many sound issues and it’s messing up my performance. I’m seriously not feeling this shit. This is too messed up.

•  I am representing Africa this is too messed up. 

• The sound cannot be perfect for every artist that gets on this stage and Africa is in the house and you’re messing shit up,” he directed at the organizers.

He, however, continued his singing, but the erratic disruption didn’t stop, so the Mavin signee halted his performance when he said

• “Too many sound issues, my people, I love you all, my people,” and walked off the stage. 

In 2023, Rema stormed off a stage in Atlanta due to the poor quality of the venue, which he believed was below what his fans deserved.

Reactions on Rema Walking Out

@Ryan_pengame:

Yes, Rema did the right thing. The sounds were all jam-packed right before he interrupted. He wasn’t even rude about it, was just being real.

@Hashem4life:

This is the second time Rema is walking off stage because of how they treated him. The organizers of this show should query.

@_davyben:

And that’s why Rema is the natural heir to the throne, the future face of Afrobeats.

@kolexynoni125:

The kind of energy I like and I always preach. These people are not better than us. Africa is blessed. All you need to know about these people is just one move(travel out) and you’ll know how blessed we are in Africa. Our leaders just need to get it right!