While flaunting wealth has become common among celebrities, afrobeats star, Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, prefers to keep his lifestyle private, saying he does not want his success to put pressure on young people.
In a recent interview with JAM FM, he explained that he is mindful of how young people perceive his success and does not want them to feel they are falling behind in life.
He said, “A lot of young people look up to me, whether they are my fans or not. I have something they want or dream of, so I do my best not to make anyone feel bad about themselves or feel pressured.”
According to the singer, seeing someone of the same age achieve success can make others feel they need to rush their own journey.
“Everybody has their time but some people just want to rush it because they see their fellow young person doing well,” he said, adding that he remains careful about what he chooses to show publicly because people may interpret it differently.
Rema also pointed to the pressure many young people face from their families, particularly when parents compare them with others or push them towards careers they do not want.
“I just care about the kids who are under pressure. Parents do that as well. Parents compare a lot. Parents put a lot of kids under pressure,” he said.
He added that some students end up studying courses they have little interest in simply because their parents want them to secure well-paying jobs.
“I don’t want anybody to rush their time or pressure themselves because of me,” he said.
His preference for a low-key lifestyle extends to his fashion choices. Although known for his distinctive appearance, the singer said he prefers simple streetwear to an excessive display of designer labels.
“I just like to keep it simple. That is one reason I enjoy streetwear. I really don’t do too many designers. The only thing that is really lavish about me may be my chains or watches,” he said.
Despite his international success, Rema appears comfortable keeping much of his private life away from public scrutiny. Rather than making his wealth the centre of attention, he says he is more concerned about how his actions might affect young people who look up to him.