- – Rema, the Afrobeats star, shared that losing his father forced him to shoulder the responsibility of supporting his family at a young age, altering his childhood.
- – He started smoking to reclaim a sense of youth and freedom, feeling that he grew up too quickly due to the pressures of early fame and adult responsibilities.
- – Rema’s recent project, “HeIs,” reflects his desire to reconnect with his inner child, highlighting the personal sacrifices and emotional struggles behind his rapid rise to fame.
Coping with Loss and Responsibility
Afrobeats sensation Divine Ikubor, widely known as Rema, has spoken candidly about how the loss of his father affected his early life.
In an open conversation with GRM, the 24-year-old “Calm Down” singer disclosed that the death of his father thrust the heavy responsibility of supporting his family onto his young shoulders. As a result, he felt compelled to “sell” his childhood to provide for his loved ones.
Rema described how the premature burden of adult responsibilities altered his formative years, robbing him of the carefree experiences typical for someone his age.
He explained that this rapid onset of adult duties and expectations forced him to mature quickly, leaving little room for the simple joys of youth.
Struggles with Adult Expectations
Rema also addressed his recent decision to start smoking cigarettes, revealing it as an attempt to reclaim some sense of youthful rebellion and freedom.
He noted that despite being an adult, he faced criticism for his choices simply because of his celebrity status.
“I really wanted to feel like a child again… I feel like I grew up too fast,” Rema shared. “Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother.
“The weight was just on my shoulders and forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family. God willing, everything happened well, it happened fast. And with fast fame comes fast maturity. It’s just like never-ending levels of seriousness.”
Rema elaborated on the pressure that came with his meteoric rise to fame, noting that he often found himself surrounded by adults and lacked the chance to interact with peers his age.
He revealed that his latest project, “HeIs,” is an effort to reconnect with his inner child. “I just want to be a child. And it’s coming out. It’s not me forcing it out. It just sparked in my spirit. I just want to feel young again. I just want to be a rebel.”
He emphasized that young people often make mistakes and that these errors are typically forgiven. However, for someone in the public eye, such as himself, the same mistakes are magnified and heavily scrutinized.
“I know people who smoked a cigarette when they were 13, and I’m 24 smoking a cigarette because I just want to feel free and break some rules. All my life just feels so planned and scheduled. I just got tired,” he expressed with a hint of frustration.
Rema’s reflections offer a glimpse into the personal struggles that often accompany early fame and the sacrifices made in pursuit of success.
His story is a poignant reminder of the complex realities behind the glitz and glamour of celebrity life.
