Qing Madi
For 16-year-old singer, songwriter and entertainer Qing Madi, born Chimamanda Pearl
Chukwuma, music has been her only calling. Her artistic genius was evident at the early age of 7,
when…
For 16-year-old singer, songwriter and entertainer Qing Madi, born Chimamanda Pearl
Chukwuma, music has been her only calling. Her artistic genius was evident at the early age of 7,
when she launched her career. Heavily influenced by her cultural background and the lyrical
arrangements of Kendrick Lamar, the multi-talented Nigerian prodigy is shaping the future of
music with her unique genre-bending fusion of afrobeats, pop, soul and R&B.
The young virtuoso was birthed in Benin City, Nigeria and primarily raised by her mother, a former
singer and dancer, alongside her siblings. She got her professional start by competing in school
talent shows as well as singing in church; her vocal capabilities, confidence and ambition earned
her a spot in the adult choir. Recognizing the unique nature of her child’s gifts, her mother enrolled
her in a local ballet academy as a means to foster her creativity outside of school. It proved to be
an exceptionally progressive move. Qing Madi won several dance awards and the classes provided
inspiration and also helped to foster her musical gifts. She learned to quickly memorize lyrics, how
to properly nurture her vocal instrument and how to identify her sound, skills that set her apart
from her peers. At the ages of 11 and 13, Qing Madi released two EPs, Africa and Soldier,
respectively. While she was proud of the projects and possessed the ability to express her thoughts
clearly, she used a co-writer on several songs where she spoke about mature topics such as
heartache, childhood trauma and financial struggles due to her young age
Qing Madi saw her hard work coalesce when she began booking performances locally as well as
out of state, all managed and supported by her mother. The attention she garnered confirmed her
limitless potential. Not one to leave her dreams up to chance, the rising star focused her energy on
becoming a contestant on Nigeria’s Got Talent, which is part of the Got Talent franchise by
curating a vision board with securing a coveted spot on the life altering show as the main goal.
Qing Madi’s music breakthrough came in September of 2022 when she secured a record deal with
Jton Music, an independent label owned by Joy Tongo who worked with the likes of Nigerian
superstars Psquare and Yemi Alade. “I decided to sing one of my original songs online and to my
surprise, everyone loved it.” Later Jton Music inked her a deal with Columbia Records/BuVision. Bu
Thiam, CEO of BuVision is a renowned executive whose resume includes work with Rihanna, Kanye
West, Akon, and Lady Gaga. The former A&R at Def Jam and now EVP at Columbia Records
says he “flew to Nigeria twice in one week to find the 16 year old singer songwriter.”
While Qing Madi is currently working on her debut EP, she released the single “WHY,” which
was inspired by disappointing reflections with her secondary school classmates. “They would often
feel entitled to my attention when I was chasing my own life and call me names like ‘hypocrite.’
There’s a line in the song that says, ‘Nobody holy pass Mary and na the only reason we Dey,’ was
a response from me saying, ‘I’m not perfect.’” When you hear Qing Madi’s voice, you experience
her heart. Her personal compositions are powerful yet soft, like her stage moniker. An explosive
entertainer, Qing Madi is the star of her own show. Her connection to her supporters, her roots and
the ways she makes sense of who she is as a person and who she is as a performer is special.
Queen Qing is looking to irrevocably change the landscape of the industry with her global brand
of Afro R&B and her crown of respect fully intact.