Divine Ikubor, a prominent Nigerian afrobeats musician known by his stage name Rema, recently shared personal insights into the profound impact his father’s passing had on his upbringing. He expressed, "I became weary, and I channeled that desire for liberation into my music."

During a recent interview with GRM, the 24-year-old artist revealed that the loss of his father at a young age compelled him to assume responsibilities beyond his years, essentially “sacrificing” his childhood to provide for his family.

Rema expressed a yearning to recapture the carefree nature of youth, acknowledging how the pressures of premature adulthood have shaped both his personal life and professional trajectory.

He expressed, "I truly yearned to experience the innocence of childhood once more. It seems as though I matured too quickly. Life took a drastic turn when I lost my father and brother, placing an immense burden on my shoulders that compelled me to sacrifice my childhood in order to support my family.

"I initially believed that my endeavors in Ghana, including my small music projects and various hustles, would be the culmination of my efforts. However, music began to flourish, leading me to pursue it relentlessly. By the grace of God, everything unfolded rapidly and favorably. With swift fame came an accelerated sense of maturity, resulting in an ongoing atmosphere of seriousness. I found myself surrounded by numerous adults and attending countless meetings, leaving little room for companionship with my peers.

"I doubt I ever associated with those who were 19 or 18 years old. At 17, I did not encounter anyone my age, and by the time I turned 20, my companions were often five, six, or even ten years my senior. With this new project, my desire is to reconnect with my childhood; it is finally emerging. I long to feel youthful again and embrace a sense of rebellion. I grew weary of the constraints, and I channeled that longing for freedom into my music.

"My aspiration is to recapture my youth and embody that rebellious spirit. Children are allowed to make mistakes, and it is deemed acceptable. Yet, as a teenager, if I were to make the same errors as my peers, I would face scrutiny simply due to my public visibility.

"I am aware of individuals who experimented with cigarettes at the age of 13, while I, at 24, find myself smoking a cigarette in search of liberation and a chance to defy some rules. My life has felt overly structured and meticulously planned. I grew exhausted, and I infused that yearning for freedom into my music."