Rema, the Nigerian singer, says poverty was the reason he
stopped working for Christ Embassy church and ventured into secular music.
The singer, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, spoke in a
chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds, on Sunday.
The 21-year-old said contrary to popular belief, he became a
secular singer before he got signed to Mavin Records.
He said he was singing at Christ Embassy, the church founded
by Chris Oyakhilome, for several years before the pangs of poverty made him
switch to secular music.
“Church made me
decide that I would do music. It started from the Christ Embassy Benin City,”
he 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.
“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.”
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