Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, recently opened up about how the loss of his father affected his childhood and shaped his life choices. In a candid interview with GRM, the 24-year-old artist discussed the heavy responsibilities that fell on his shoulders at a young age, leading him to “sell” his childhood to take care of his family.
Rema shared that the intense pressures of life, coupled with the fast fame he achieved, forced him to grow up quickly and miss out on the carefree aspects of youth. As a result, he now longs to “feel young again.”
Reflecting on this desire, Rema revealed that he recently started smoking cigarettes as a way to rebel against the structured life he has been living and to reclaim some of the freedom he feels he lost:
“I really wanted to feel like a child again… I feel like I grew up too fast. Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother. The weight was just on my shoulder and forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family.”
He went on to express his frustration at the criticism he faces, despite making the decision to smoke as an adult:
“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.”
Rema’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the emotional challenges he has faced and his ongoing journey to reconnect with his youthful spirit amidst the demands of fame.
