Why I Keep My Lifestyle Simple Despite My Success, Rema Reveals

Kehinde Adeleye

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has explained why he avoids excessively flaunting his wealth and achievements on social media, saying he does not want to put young people under pressure.

The singer made the remarks during an interview with Jam FM, where he spoke about his influence on young people who admire his success and aspire to achieve similar heights in their careers.

Rema said he was conscious of the fact that many young people look up to him, including those who are not necessarily his fans. He explained that he tries to keep his lifestyle simple to avoid making others feel inadequate about their own progress.

“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,” he said.

The singer noted that seeing someone of a similar age achieve considerable success could make others feel compelled to rush their own journeys, even when their circumstances are different.

“Everybody has their time but some people just want to rush it because they see their fellow young person doing well,” he said.

According to Rema, although some people have advised him not to worry about how his lifestyle might affect others, he remains cautious because his actions could be interpreted differently by those who look up to him.

He also highlighted the pressure some children face from their parents, particularly when they are pushed to pursue courses or careers they do not want because of the promise of well-paying jobs.

“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.

Rema added that he does not want young people to feel compelled to achieve success prematurely simply because they see him doing well.

“So, I don’t want anybody to rush their time or pressure themselves because of me. I just like to keep it simple,” he said.

The singer also linked his preference for a relatively simple lifestyle to his fashion choices, explaining that he enjoys streetwear and does not usually wear too many designer labels.

“The only thing that is really lavish about me may be my chains or watches,” he added.

His comments highlight concerns about social comparison and the pressure young people can experience when measuring their progress against the lifestyles and achievements displayed by celebrities online.