I Smoke, Pray Before Going On Stage To Perform – Rema

By Christianah Oladosu,Osogbo

Nigerian Afrobeats artiste, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has opened up about his pre-show rituals.

In an interview with Dazed on the sidelines of the Milan Fashion Week, where he walked the runway for Diesel, Rema revealed that he drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes, and prays before going on stage to perform.

He added that he also does sound-check with his team to make sure modalities are in place for a good performance.

“A little Tequila, a little cigarette, pray, tap in with the team and make sure everything is on cue,” he stated when asked about his pre-show rituals.

Rema said performing is more stressful than walking on runway, stressing that “performing has a lot to do with your breathwork and you have to keep the crowd going.”

On the music that has been inspiring him lately, Rema said “I have been listening to a lot of Sudanese cultural live music.”

He admitted that smoking cigarettes is his “biggest vice.”