Nigerian musician, Divine Ikubor, better known as Rema, says he switched from gospel to secular music in order to meet the needs of his family.
The singer stated this during Rubbin’ Minds show, televised on Channels TV on Sunday.
He said he started his music career at Christ Embassy Benin City.
Rema stated that the switch to secular music happened when he started going to sing at bars and lounges.
He said “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.
“I was still in Benin when that switch happened. A lot of people thought that when I got signed, I started deviating.
“No. Actually, life was tough in Benin. I’m not that guy to ask the people in church to pay me because I’m doing God’s work.
“Right there in Benin, I started going to competitions, going to bars, lounges, political rallies; just trying to get on the stage and hold a microphone, to at least get sprayed some money to come back home and feed my family, because we were going through tough times.
“I lost my father and brother and I needed to come through for my family. At that point in time, I felt like that’s where I started spacing out; little by little, until I just exiled.”
He added“It was weird for me and most especially for my mum because she was well known in church. I didn’t do any much explaining. I just told her to trust me.”