Rema Namakula
Ugandan singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rehema Namakula (born 24 April 1991), known professionally as Rema Namakula or simply Rema, is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, and music producer.[2]
Rema Namakula | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 24 April 1991[1] Kampala, Uganda |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter producer |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Education | Kyambogo University |
| Spouse |
Hamza Ssebunya (m. 2019) |
Early life and education
Rema was born in Lubaga Hospital, on 24 April 1991, to the late Hamida Nabbosa and the late Mukiibi Ssemakula.[1] She is the last-born in her family. She attended Kitante Primary School for her elementary school education.[3] She studied at Saint Balikudembe Senior Secondary School for both O-Level and A-Level studies.[4] Later, she joined Kyambogo University, where she completed. [1]
Career
During her Senior 6 vacation, she began singing karaoke. Later, she became a back-up singer to another Ugandan female musician Halima Namakula, who became her mentor. She continued her music career as a backup artist for Ugandan musician Bebe Cool in gagamel, Bebe Cool's recording group. In 2013, Bebe Cool was watching television when he saw Rema talking about launching a solo album, which Bebe Cool didn't know about. So he fired her and she went solo.[2][5] In 2013 she released "Oli Wange" which was written by Nince Henry which made her popular in the music industry of Uganda.[2]
In 2016, Rema Namakula was selected to represent Uganda at the fourth season of Coke Studio Africa 2016. Other Ugandan recording artists selected included Lydia Jazmine, Eddy Kenzo and Radio and Weasel.[6] Other participants in the invitation-only event included 2Baba (2Face Idibia) from Nigeria and Trey Songz from the United States.[7]
Personal life
Over time, Namakula began a romantic relationship with Ugandan recording artist Eddy Kenzo.[8] On 26 December 2014, Namakula gave birth to a daughter at Paragon Hospital, in the Kampala neighborhood of Bugoloobi. Kenzo (real name Edrisa Musuuza), who has another daughter (Maya Musuuza) from a previous relationship,[8] acknowledged being the father and named the newborn Aamaal Musuuza.[9]
On 14 November 2019, Namakula introduced her new fiancé, Dr. Hamza Ssebunya, in a ceremony that took place at her home in Nabbingo, near Kampala.[10] The introduction was a national affair, as thousands camped out along the procession route to her home.[11]
On 7 November 2021, Namakula welcomed her second child. A baby girl named Aaliyah Ssebunya.[12]