Popular Nigerian musician Rema has responded to recent online rumors accusing him of worshipping the devil. The claims, according to the singer, seem to have stemmed from the bold and visually striking aesthetics in his music videos and performances, particularly his use of the color red.
In a recent interview on the Kids Take Over podcast, Rema addressed these allegations, calling them the “craziest thing” he’s seen about himself.
He explained that the imagery in his work is purely artistic and has no connection to any religious or spiritual practices.
“The craziest thing I’ve seen online about me is that I worship the devil; they say I worship the devil,” he said during the podcast.
Rema emphasized that he does not see the need to respond to such rumors, considering them a waste of time. He explained that the use of colors, like red, is simply part of his creative expression.
“It’s not important to respond to those claims; I feel like it’s a waste of time. Sometimes it’s just really the colors my team and I use to dominate an image,” he said.
He pointed out that the “rabbid phase,” a period in which he frequently used red in his visuals, was misunderstood by some.
“The rabbid phase was about red and people were just scarred about red, and I’m like, ‘Yo, it’s red.’ 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?” Rema added.
In the interview, the singer also spoke about how some people have misinterpreted elements of his Edo culture, labeling it as “devilish” because they don’t understand it. He expressed frustration with how his culture is sometimes perceived.
“Another thing is that my culture, the Edo culture, is not one that the world has been familiar with. It has not had a lot of ambassadors and is not one of the popular traditions in the diaspora. A lot of people are familiar with other cultures and if they don’t understand it, they label it devilish,” Rema said.
Despite the criticism, the “Ozeba” singer made it clear that he doesn’t feel the need to explain his creative choices to those who misunderstand them. He believes that people should interpret art in their own way.
“It’s literally one Google search away and they want me to explain it, and that’s a waste of time. So will I do the music, videos, and creative direction and still come and explain it to y’all? Hell no! That’s why it’s art; you see it and make a meaning for yourself,” he stated.
Rema concluded by reaffirming that his music, visuals, and fashion are all part of his artistic expression. He encourages listeners to make their own interpretations but rejects the notion that his work has any connection to devil worship.
“I feel like it’s the same thing with music and imagery, it will speak to you how it needs to and if you call it the devil… Bless,” he said.