Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, has shared why he made a transition from gospel to secular music.
The 21-year-old singer, who once headed a gospel rap group in Christ Embassy church, noted that poverty was the reason he ventured into secular music.
The fast-rising Nigerian singer made this known in a chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday.
The Benin-born singer noted that the switch began when he started going to sing at bars and lounges to make ends meet, adding that contrary to popular belief, he hadn’t yet relocated to Lagos and got signed to Mavin Records when he made a switch to secular music.
According to him, the transition was weird for him and his mum but he was able to convince the latter about his choice.
“Church made me decide that I would do music. It started from the Christ Embassy, Benin City,” Rema said.
“Transitioning from singing and serving in church was weird for me and I believe it was weird for them (my people). I didn’t really ask much or how they felt about it. It was weird and most importantly to my mom because she was well known in the church. I didn’t do any much explaining. I just told her to trust me.
“It’s just where life has drawn me towards and I have to take the opportunity. I was still in Benin when that switch happened. A lot of people felt that it was when I got signed.
“Actually, life was tough in Benin. I’m not that guy to ask those in church to pay me because I’m doing God’s work.
“But right then in Benin, I started going to competitions, bars, lounges, political rallies. Just trying to get on the stage or hold a microphone. To at least get sprayed some money to get back home and feed my family.
“Because we were going through tough times and I lost my dad and brother. I needed to come through for my family. At that point in time, I felt like that was where I started spacing out; little by little, until I just exiled.”
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