Nigerian artiste, Rema’s Ethiopian concert cancelled over alleged ‘devil’ wordhip

ETHIOPIA – A concert to mark the Ethiopian New Year’s Eve, which was to feature Nigeria’s Afrobeats star, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has been cancelled due to what organisers described as “religious sentiment and suggestive imagery” in reference to the artiste’s necklace.

The imagery on the necklace reportedly sparked significant public outcry and condemnation, and was viewed as disrespectful and offensive by many Ethiopians.

Africa Watch news reports that the multiple award-winning singer was to perform at the concert scheduled for the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on Saturday, September 9, but the organisers had to call off the event.

This followed public outrage over the artwork on his customised necklace which they said was associated with “worshipping the devil,” a statement claimed on Friday.

The management of Sheraton Hotel, which also released a statement announcing the cancellation of the concert, said the “decision came as a result of the artwork used for the concert, where Ikubor wore a customised necklace that has a burning church and inverted crosses.”

“The symbols used by the Nigerian singer, Rema, particularly a burning church featured on his necklace and used as a backdrop for his performances, were viewed as disrespectful and offensive by many Ethiopians,” a local online platform wrote.

“The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, with its deep cultural heritage and strong religious convictions, had also condemned the symbols, emphasising that the imagery is against Ethiopian culture, history, and religious values,” it added.

An Ethiopian entertainment enthusiast, who was interviewed by a Nigerian media personality, Daddy Freeze, also confirmed her countrymen’s concerns over the controversial necklace.

In the interview, she explained that “Ikubor’s necklace led to accusations of him worshipping the devil, which ultimately resulted in the cancellation of his show by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.”

“They made a statement, like a press release in Ethiopia about Rema. Yes, you can imagine, it’s a very big deal. They’re basically saying he is worshipping the devil because of what he has on his neck. And to be honest, I never thought of it myself. And there’s more to it; to be honest,” she said.

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