I sold my childhood to provide for my family – Rema

Nigerian Afrobeats artist, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, recently shared the deep impact his father's death had on his childhood. The 24-year-old artist discussed in an interview with GRM how losing his father at a young age compelled him to "sell" his childhood to support his family.

Rema expressed a desire to "feel young again," emphasizing how the responsibilities of early adulthood have shaped his life and career. He reflected, “I really wanted to feel like a child again... I feel like I grew up too fast. Life changed drastically for me when I lost my dad and brother. The burden was on my shoulders, and I had to sacrifice my childhood to provide for my family."

He went on to explain that he initially believed his efforts in Ghana and other ventures would be temporary, but as his music career took off, it led to rapid fame and maturity. He noted that this brought an ongoing level of seriousness to his life, where he was often surrounded by adults and missed out on socializing with peers his own age.

Rema added, "When I was 17, I didn't see other 17-year-olds, and by the time I was 20, everyone around me was much older. With this new project, I just want to embrace my youth and rebel a bit. I'm tired of the constant seriousness, and I’ve channeled that desire for freedom into my music."

He also shared his frustration with the expectations placed on him as a young person in the spotlight, saying, "Kids make mistakes, and it’s acceptable. But as a teenager in the public eye, you're judged more harshly for the same mistakes. I’ve seen people experiment with smoking at 13, and now, at 24, I find myself doing the same, just to feel a sense of freedom. My life has been so structured and planned, and I’ve grown tired of it. That longing for freedom is what I’ve expressed in my music."

---