Qing Madi is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and dancer widely regarded as one of the most remarkable young talents to emerge from Africa in recent years. Born Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, her stage name translates to “powerful, feminine” (Qing) and “heaven” (Madi) — a fitting description for an artist whose voice and storytelling have already made a significant mark on the global Afrobeats landscape before her 20th birthday.
Early Life & Education
Born on July 1, 2006, in Benin City, Edo State, Qing Madi was raised by her mother alongside her siblings. She is originally from Delta State. Her mother — a former singer and dancer herself — encouraged her love of music from the earliest age. Qing Madi began singing in her church’s adult choir as a young child, participated in school talent shows at Negbenegbor International School in Benin City, and won several local ballet and dance awards. Inspired by the lyricism of Kendrick Lamar and the artistry of Wizkid and Burna Boy, she began writing her own songs in her early teens, using music as a therapeutic outlet to navigate personal challenges including depression. She later relocated to Lagos with her family, where she began writing for other artists including Skales, Iyanya, and Larry Gaaga before turning her focus to her own career.
Career Beginnings
Qing Madi’s breakthrough came unexpectedly. While providing backing vocals for Blaqbonez, she met his producer Ramoni, who played her a beat she loved. She freestyled over it, titled the track “See Finish,” and uploaded it to TikTok in October 2022. The song exploded virally, accumulating over 8.2 million streams and flooding her DMs with interest from local and international record labels. She subsequently signed to Jton Music, which inked a distribution deal with Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment — making her one of the youngest Nigerian artists to secure a major international deal off the strength of a single track.
Breakthrough
Building on the viral momentum of “See Finish,” Qing Madi released “Why” in 2023, which continued her rise. But it was “Ole” featuring BNXN, released on July 21, 2023, that confirmed her as a genuine star. The song went viral on TikTok, charted at number 12 on TurnTable Top 100, peaked at number 16 on the UK Official Afrobeats Chart, hit number 1 on the Uganda Top 100 Apple Music chart, and number 3 on the Nigeria Top 100 Apple Music chart. It also surpassed 10 million Spotify streams, making Qing Madi the first Nigerian artist to chart at number one on the Uganda Apple Music chart. In June 2023, she was named Spotify Africa Equal Ambassador for the month, and was featured on Apple Music’s Up Next artist development programme — joining the ranks of Rema, Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, and Tems as past participants.
Debut EP & International Recognition
On November 17, 2023, Qing Madi released her self-titled debut EP Qing Madi via Jton Music — a 7-track project that debuted at number 14 on the Nigeria Apple Music chart and received a 7.5/10 rating from Pulse Nigeria. In January 2024, she was inducted into Apple Music’s Rising Class of 2024 alongside Odumodublvck, Bloody Civilian, and Tyla. In July 2024, she released the deluxe edition of the EP featuring a remix of “Vision” with Chloe Bailey, “YBIL (You Believe in Love)” with Kizz Daniel, and “Sins For U.” She also appeared on Falz’s The Feast album, collaborated with artists internationally, and performed at major festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival.
Debut Album
On January 31, 2025, Qing Madi released her debut studio album I Am the Blueprint — a bold, entirely solo 13-track project with no guest features. The album was praised by tooXclusive as a “declaration of her artistic identity,” blending Afrobeats, pop, R&B, and soul across tracks touching on love, resilience, ambition, and self-empowerment. The opening track “Bucket List” was written when she was just 14 years old. The album was the first Nigerian project released in 2025 and was met with widespread critical acclaim.
Awards & Recognition
- The Headies – Songwriter of the Year (2025) — youngest female laureate in a major category
- The Headies – Five nominations (2025), most for any female artist that year
- Apple Music Rising Class of 2024
- Apple Music Up Next Artist
- Spotify Africa Equal Ambassador – June 2023
- AFRIMA – Most Promising Artiste in Africa nomination for “Ego” (2025)
- “Ole” – No. 1 on Uganda Top 100 Apple Music chart (first Nigerian artist to achieve this)
- “Ole” – No. 12 on TurnTable Top 100 & No. 16 on UK Official Afrobeats Chart
Recent Developments
Qing Madi has continued to release music and grow her international profile following I Am the Blueprint, with singles including “Akanchawa,” “Ali Bomaye,” “Feeling Alright,” and “Goosebumps.” She performed at The Headies 2025 alongside Chike and Flavour and has toured the United States and Europe. She is widely regarded as one of the defining voices of the new generation of Nigerian female artists.
Legacy
At just 18, Qing Madi has already rewritten what is possible for a young Nigerian female artist. From a viral TikTok freestyle to a Columbia Records deal, a Headies win, international festival performances, and a debut album that debuted as the first Nigerian project of 2025, her ascent has been nothing short of extraordinary. She is setting the blueprint — not just for herself, but for an entire generation.
