Rema shuts down ‘devil worship’ allegations

Rema shuts down ‘devil worship’ allegations

Nigerian music sensation Rema has spoken out against rumours that he worships the devil, a claim he attributes to misunderstandings surrounding the imagery in his music videos and performances. The “Calm Down” hitmaker addressed these accusations during a recent appearance on the “Kids Take Over” podcast, describing the claims as the “craziest thing” he has encountered about himself online.

Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, explained that the bold visuals and colour schemes featured in his work, particularly during his recent “rabbid phase,” have been misunderstood. He emphasized that these creative choices are purely artistic and not indicative of any darker affiliations.

“The craziest thing I’ve seen online about me is that I worship the devil,” the singer said. “They say I worship the devil because of the colours and visuals we use. But it’s really just about the artistic direction.”

One specific example Rema pointed to was the frequent use of red, a colour that sparked controversy among some fans and critics who interpreted it as symbolic of evil. He dismissed this interpretation, likening it to calling someone in a red dress “the devil,” simply because of the colour they are wearing.

“It’s just red,” Rema said, with a laugh. “If you see a beautiful lady in a red dress, you won’t call her the devil, so why are you calling me the devil? People were just scarred by the red, but for us, it’s just a colour to dominate an image.”

Rema also touched on how his Edo heritage has influenced his creative work, which, he said, has often been misinterpreted by those unfamiliar with the culture. Edo traditions, particularly visual elements rooted in his background, have led to further accusations of being “devilish,” a label he firmly rejects.

“My culture, the Edo culture, is not one that the world is familiar with,” Rema explained. “It hasn’t had a lot of ambassadors, and because people don’t understand it, they’re quick to label it devilish. But it’s really just misunderstood.”

Despite the persistent rumours, the “Ozeba” singer stated that he does not see the need to address these baseless claims, considering it a “waste of time” to explain his artistic direction to detractors.

“It’s literally one Google search away,” he said, expressing his frustration with those demanding explanations. “I won’t create the music, videos, and creative direction and then still come and explain it to y’all. That’s why it’s art – you see it and make your own meaning from it.”

Rema concluded by stating that art is subjective and open to interpretation. Whether people misunderstand his vision or not, he remains focused on his craft.

“If you call it the devil, bless,” he said, closing the conversation on a note of confidence and creative independence.