Rema Opens Up About Smoking Habit and the Impact of Loss on His Childhood

Nigerian Afrobeats star Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, has shared his personal struggles and the impact of losing his father and brother on his upbringing. In a recent interview with GRM, the 24-year-old artist discussed how these profound losses forced him into adult responsibilities at a young age, leading him to feel as though he had to “sell” his childhood to support his family.

Rema revealed that his decision to start smoking was driven by a desire to escape the feeling of his life being overly planned and controlled. He explained that he wanted to recapture a sense of freedom and rebelliousness that he felt he lost as he grew up too quickly. Despite being an adult when he made this choice, Rema noted that his smoking habit has drawn criticism due to his celebrity status.

He expressed a longing to relive his younger years and embrace a more carefree attitude. “I really wanted to feel like a child again,” Rema said. “Life switched up on me crazy when I lost my dad and my brother. The weight was just on my shoulders, and it forced me to sell my childhood to provide for my family.”

Rema mentioned that with rapid fame came accelerated maturity, leading to an unending cycle of seriousness and adult responsibilities. He shared that his latest project, “HeIs,” is a reflection of his desire to reconnect with his youthful side and experience a sense of rebellion. He feels that mistakes made during teenage years are often judged harshly, especially under the public eye.

Despite his age, Rema admitted that he started smoking as a way to break free from the tightly controlled and scheduled life he has experienced. “All my life just feels so planned and scheduled. I just got tired,” he said.