Why I was forced to ‘abort’ my childhood – Rema

Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, popularly known by the stage name, Rema, has disclosed how he was forced to “abort” his childhood while growing up, due to some family and socio-economic challenges.

The 21-year-old singer and student of Theater Arts at the University of Lagos revealed so in a recent edition of Afrobeat Intelligence with Joey Akan.

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Rema who had released his debut album named Rave & Roses on March 25, and the winner of 2020 The Future Awards Africa, said growing up in Benin City with his family was difficult due to the loss of his dad, peer pressure, among other social challenges.

The singer said, “It’s too many to talk about. But I’d just say there were struggles growing up. You know, between my mum and my dad; losing my dad, the insecurities. The fear within school trying to meet up with people’s expectations, peer pressure, within the church, living by the rules. I would say trying to convey the feeling of giving praise to the Most High and also feeding my family going through a lot.

“Switching up the sound, going into secular music, the competitions I went through in Benin City, the ones I won. The people that used me in different phases of life, in different aspects where I was deemed not smart enough. So most of my knowledge or wisdom didn’t really come from books or people, it literally came from experience.”

The Calm Down singer further narrated how he had run away from home and landed in Ghana.

He continued, “Running away from home, going to Ghana to work things out for my life, my family. My mum going through her phase and me being the only man to provide for my family at the age of 15. I had to get my hands dirty in different aspects. So yeah, that’s it.

“I would say I grew up way too early and you know, I was forced to abort my childhood. I know I’m still young. But I’d say, in my early youth, I didn’t really enjoy it.

“I didn’t really do what youths do during their 15s or their 20s or 21. I’m 21 but life got serious real quick, so I had to man up. I feel like a lot more people have gone through their own phases, but not a lot of people wake themselves up. But I did and I had to put down some things.

“Like some sacrifices which some youths won’t like to drop. They want to live life fast but I had to stay grounded and push.”