April 25, (THEWILL) – Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, has revealed the reason he stopped working for Christ Embassy Church and also ventured into seccular music.
In a chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Channels TV’s Rubbin Minds, the singer stated that poverty made him take such step. He also added that contrary to popular belief, he became a secular musician before being signed into Marvin Records.
He said he was singing at Christ Embassy Church, founded by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for several years before the pangs of poverty made him switch to secular music.
“Church made me decide that I would do music, it started from Christ Embassy Church, Benin City.
“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 that 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. But 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, lounge, political rallies. Just trying to get on 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 brother and my father. I needed to come through for my family. At that point in time, I felt like that was where I started spacing out.”
