Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has opened up about how losing his father at a young age forced him to grow up quickly and take on the responsibility of supporting his family. In a recent interview with GRM, the 24-year-old ‘Calm Down’ singer shared that this experience made him feel like he “sold” his childhood.
Rema expressed a desire to “feel young again,” revealing that he recently started smoking cigarettes as a way to break free from the pressures and rules that have governed his life. Despite being an adult, he noted that his decision to smoke has drawn criticism because of his celebrity status.
Reflecting on his fast rise to fame and the responsibilities that came with it, Rema said, “I feel like I grew up too fast. Losing my dad and brother put a lot of weight on my shoulders, and I had to give up my childhood to take care of my family. Everything happened so quickly, and with that fast fame came fast maturity.”
He continued, “Now, with my new project [‘HeIs’], I just want to be a kid again. I want to be a rebel, make mistakes like any other young person, but it feels like everyone expects perfection because I’m in the spotlight. I just want to feel free and live without everything being so planned and scheduled.”
