Popular Nigerian singer, and songwriter, Rema dishes out the reason why he had to move from being a gospel artiste to a secular type of artiste.
According to Rema who is born with his legal name Divine Ikubor, he had to switch genres due to poverty, meaning he was not amazed at his financial status while singing to glorify God’s name.
He made this known during his recent interview speaking with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds show on Sunday.
Before switching to seular, the 21-year-old singer revealed he used to sing at Chris Oyakhilome’s church, the Christ Embassy, for so many years before poverty took a hold of him.
In his words
“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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