Nigerian global popstar Rema has clarified the motivation behind his evolving image, including his tattoos, smoking, and grungier fashion, calling it an intentional “artistic decision” aligned with the energy of his latest album HEIS. The 24-year-old made the statement on Thursday during the one-year anniversary celebration of the album, which has gone on to become one of the most streamed African projects of the past year.
“This is not a change in my true self,” Rema said. “It’s a reflection of the world I built with HEIS. Every look, every sound, every tattoo, even the smoking — it’s performance. It’s storytelling. It’s art.”
His remarks come as conversations around on-screen smoking and youth influence continue to heat up in Nigeria. The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, has issued a firm directive banning smoking, ritual scenes, and money rituals from all Nollywood content—television, streaming, and cinema, citing concerns about their influence on young viewers.
In a cultural landscape where creatives are often forced to walk the tightrope between expression and censorship, Rema’s statement signals defiance wrapped in artistic clarity. The Benin-born star isn’t backing down from the persona he’s cultivated over the last year—a darker, more experimental aesthetic that aligns with the themes of HEIS, a project that dives deep into solitude, elevation, divine calling, and rebellion.
Beyond the commentary, HEIS has had a monumental run. Globally, Rema’s HEIS World Tour packed arenas with tens of thousands of fans. The sold-out O2 Arena show in London and the jaw-dropping rooftop performance in Tokyo solidified his standing as a genre-pushing titan.
Rema’s transformations is all strategic. He’s expanding the language of African pop. If Burna Boy is the African Giant and Wizkid is the Starboy, Rema is the shapeshifter, always one step ahead of expectation, blending mystery with mastery.
So whether he’s smoking on stage or praying in the booth, Rema’s vision is intentional, his art is layered, and his presence is only getting louder.
As for the critics? He’s too busy building temples with his sound.
