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Rema Sends Solidarity Message to the Five Iranian Women Arrested for Dancing to His Music

Rema has spoken out in support of five Iranian girls who were arrested for dancing to his music.

Nigerian Afropop star Rema sent a message of solidarity to five young Iranian women who were reportedly arrested for releasing a video dancing to his music.

On International Women’s Day, the women created a buzz online after releasing a video showing them dancing to the global hit "Calm Down." In the video, the women wore no headscarves while slightly exposing their midriffs.

According to reports, the Iranian government soon caught wind of the video and began looking for the girls. On March 9th, the Shahrak Ekbatan Twitter account—an account belonging to Ekbatan area activists—first alerted the general public by posting the dancing video online and stating that authorities had been asking residents in the area if they knew the women.

"They looked for CCTV footage of Block 13 to identify the girls who were only dancing and were not involved in any political activity. Police were seen checking the footage and questioning the guards," the account said.

Earlier this week, the Ekbatan-based activists reported that the women had been detained and forced to make an apology video, dressed in regalia that covered them from head to toe. The news soon caught the attention of Rema, who tweeted a solidarity message supporting the women earlier this week.

Although it is unclear how long the Iranian women were detained for, the Shahrak Ekbatan Twitter commented under the Twitter thread, stating that the girls were apprehended for about two days.

Historically, Iran girls have faced a number of restrictions that have limited their freedom. Some of these restrictions include legalities that require them to cover their hair and dress modestly in public.

Although there have been demands to abolish the compulsory headscarf rule, no progress has been made in that regard, and the rule is still in effect.

Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage

Stormzy & Rema Join Forces on "Hide And Seek" Remix

Stormzy recruited Mavin Records’ Rema for the remix to his record “Hide & Seek."

Stormzy has joined forces with Rema to release an Ampiano-infused remix called “Hide & Seek.”

The record, which is very rhythmic and bursting with character, showcases the versatility of both artists.The instrumentals on the record, which add an extra layer of definition to the song, give both artists the opportunity to flex their musical chops. The song, which is produced by producers Niphkey and Finito, is characterized by the afro-sound that most African-themed dance records have, but also gives Stormzy the opportunity to spit a few bars that ultimately interlace finely between the rhythm of the song, and his pronounced British accent.

STORMZY & REMA - HIDE & SEEK [REMIX]www.youtube.com

Stormzy—who was born to an Ghanaian mother but raised in the U.K—has consistently been vocal about his African heritage. In the past, he collaborated with Burna Boy on the song “Real Life,” and also has a multitude of collaborations with other African artists including Ghana’s Yaw Tog and Kwesi Arthur. This Rema collaboration marks the second time that he is remixing “Hide and Seek.” Back in January, he released first remix for the record with British girl group FLO.

Besides this new track, both artists have been working on other musical projects of their own. Stormzy recently appeared on BBC Sounds to perform his smash hit “Crown,” his new record “Give It To The Water,” and a classic cover of Oleta Adams’ “Get Here.” He was accompanied by members of the BBC Concert Orchestra. Rema, also, has been pretty busy. Following his stint at the NBA All-star half-time performance, he has continued to grind in the studio, and reap the rewards of his success, one of which includes earning accolades for “Calm Down” on the Billboard Hot 100 for the highest charting Afrobeats song.

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