How smoking helped me feel young again after early maturity – Rema

By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi

Afrobeats artiste Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, has opened up about the reasons behind his recent decision to start smoking.

In a recent interview, he discussed how the loss of his father profoundly impacted his childhood.

The 24-year-old musician revealed that after his father’s death, he was thrust into the role of family provider at a young age, which led him to feel like he “sold” his childhood.

Speaking to GRM, Rema shared that he started smoking cigarettes as a way to recapture a sense of youth and freedom, and to defy the rigid expectations that come with his fame.

He expressed a desire to “feel young again” and admitted that despite being an adult, his decision to smoke has been met with criticism due to his celebrity status.

Rema explained, “I really wanted to feel like a child again… I feel like I grew up too fast. Losing my dad and my brother placed a huge burden on me, making me step into adulthood prematurely.”

The artiste reflected on how fame has accelerated his maturity and led to a life filled with serious responsibilities, leaving him disconnected from his peers.

He described his upcoming project, ‘HeIs,’ as an opportunity to embrace a more youthful spirit and rebel against the constraints of his planned and scheduled life.

“I know people who smoked at 13, and now at 24, I’m just trying to break some rules and feel a bit of that freedom. I’m tired of everything feeling so controlled.”