Afrobeats superstar Rema delivered one of the standout performances of this year’s Yardland Festival in Paris after opening his set with a powerful rendition of the Nigerian national anthem before seamlessly transitioning into his hit song “Kelebu.”
Headlining the final day of the festival at the Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes, the Nigerian singer surprised thousands of fans by performing “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” before launching into the energetic 2025 anthem. The transition sent the crowd into a frenzy, with green-and-white Nigerian flags waving throughout the venue as fans sang along.
The patriotic opening was accompanied by striking visuals celebrating Nigerian identity and freedom, creating one of the most memorable moments of the festival. Videos of the performance quickly went viral across social media, with many fans praising Rema for blending national pride with contemporary Afrobeats in a unique live performance.
“Kelebu,” which has become one of Rema’s biggest live records, received an overwhelming reception from the Paris audience. Even listeners who were initially divided over the experimental track admitted that the performance showcased the song’s energy and stage appeal. Several celebrities, including rapper Olamide, also applauded Rema’s crowd control and stage presence following the show.
The Yardland performance forms part of Rema’s busy European festival run this summer as he continues to strengthen his reputation as one of Africa’s biggest global music exports. His ability to fuse Nigerian culture with high-energy performances has earned widespread praise from fans and critics alike.
With clips from the show continuing to rack up millions of views online, many are already calling the anthem-to-“Kelebu” transition one of the defining live music moments of the year and another reminder of Rema’s growing influence on the global stage.
