A recent visit by Nigerian music sensation Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, to his hometown in Benin City, Edo State, has stirred significant conversation online, not just for his homecoming but for his appearance at a local church. A video from the service, which went viral, captured a moment where the presiding pastor publicly acknowledged the 'Calm Down' crooner and his mother, leading to a flurry of mixed reactions from netizens.
Rema's Homecoming and Church Service with Mother
The Afrobeats star, who was raised in Benin City, was seen in previously shared clips walking through familiar neighbourhoods and interacting with excited locals during his return. One of the most circulated moments, however, was from a church service. Rema attended the service alongside his mother, and their presence created a noticeable buzz among the congregation.
The viral clip specifically shows the moment the church pastor singled out the Mavin Records star. In his acknowledgement, the cleric complimented Rema's physical appearance, stating, "You look more handsome physically than in pictures." In the video, Rema sported braided hair and black sunglasses.
This visit follows Rema's notable philanthropic pledge in 2024. During his homecoming concert in Benin City that year, he publicly committed to donating ₦105 million to the local branch of Christ Embassy. He specified that ₦85 million was for the church, while ₦20 million was earmarked for a widow within the congregation.
Netizens React: Accusations of Favouritism and Hypocrisy
The pastor's warm and complimentary reception of Rema did not sit well with a section of social media users. Many comments highlighted a perceived double standard and favouritism towards wealthy celebrities within religious settings.
Critics questioned why the pastor focused on Rema's looks rather than the content of his music, which some deem as non-religious. Others pointed out that an ordinary person with similar braided hair, tattoos, or piercings might face criticism or be labelled as spiritually wayward in the same environment.
Comments gathered from social media platforms reflect this sentiment. One user, damascots2014, queried, "Dem de allow male braids for church now ? Get money o." Another, J_WEALTH1, reacted, "See as pastor no fit tell am wetin he go tell poor man piking RELIGION IS FOR THE POOR!!!"
toluthecreator added, "all the freaky things he says in song, still praises him," while achille_frank noted, "Same pastors that will tell u not to sing circular music that it is a sin will still celebrate you when u eventually blow and become a celebrity."
Broader Context: The Omah Lay Connection
The church incident comes amid existing industry chatter involving Rema. It would be recalled that fellow singer Omah Lay previously caused a stir when he suggested, via a burner Instagram account, that a colleague had stolen his idea, delaying one of his albums. When he shared screenshots of a 2023 chat with Rema, fans connected the dots, believing he was referring to the Mavin star.
Rema's visit to his roots in Benin City, intended as a simple homecoming, has thus evolved into a multifaceted talking point. It touches on themes of celebrity culture, perceived religious hypocrisy, and the complex relationship between modern Nigerian artists and traditional community values.
