CHIDINMA: Why I can’t marry an entertainer

Chidinma Ekile, popularly known as Chidinma, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and recording artiste. Since she won the third season of MTN Project Fame West Africa in 2010, she has remained in the public consciousness and her fan base has grown so impressively. The Kedike crooner, in this interview with JOANNA OLISA-AKAEZE AND ADEDOYIN ADEYEMO, talks about her rise to fame and the Nigerian music industry, among other salient issues.   

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COULD you briefly recall your growing up in Lagos?

I am from a family of seven(four boys and three girls) and I am the last of the girls. I’m from Imo State, but I grew up here in Lagos State; so, I will probably say I’m part Lagosian. My growing up was fun. I probably didn’t have the kind of life I would have wanted to have. My parents were disciplinarians; so, I hardly went out and I had a few friends. It was basically from home to church and from school back home. I wasn’t all over the place as a child.

How will you describe your journey so far in the music industry?

It has been great, awesome and wonderful. However, it has also been very stressful and hectic. I will say it has been fun because it is what I love to do. In other words, it has actually been more of fun than work for me.

How how do you feel about your song, Oh baby, which is still rocking the airwaves?

Honestly, I feel good about it. I’m thankful for it because this business can sometimes be a gamble. You don’t know what people will like or reject. But you just have to put something out anyway. So, I’m thankful that my fans actually appreciate my music.

How did you come about the track you just did with VJ Adams?

For a while, he had been saying that we should do something together, but I didn’t really have time because I was busy travelling all over. Eventually, when I returned, he sent me something and when I listened to it, I liked it. It wasn’t really hard getting that done. We just met in the studio, recorded the song and that was it.

What do you have to say concerning the picture of Vector Tha Viper proposing to you?

(Laughs) If that was music, I’m sure it would have blown up by now. It was a big deal to people. Some guys saw that and were disappointed. Some of my admirers were like, “She’s engaged… No, no…it can’t be.” I met a lady who said she and her boyfriend were my fans,but that he was disappointed when he saw the picture of me with Vector because I’m engaged. But I am saying it to you now that I’m not engaged. It was very intentional.

Vector, Phyno and I were actually on a plane from Abuja, where we had gone for an event. I took a picture with Phyno and when he uploaded it, people were like “Oh, Phyno and Chidinma are dating…” It was just all over the place and Vector said: “ Why are people so quick to conclude? Okay, let’s do our own; let them talk.” He took my manager’s wedding ring and acted like he was proposing to me. If you look closely at the picture, it was my right hand and not my left hand. So, it was just us playing pranks.

What’s the truth about your relationship with VJ Adams?

Adams is my friend. A while back, news broke that we were dating, but we actually never dated. He’s a very good friend of mine. I’ve known him for a while now. I think it’s just normal that people would say that. I don’t know how many guys I’ve ‘dated’ in the industry. It’s a whole lot, but I see it as part of the business.

You are like the favourite eye candy of most male artistes in Nigeria; so, how does that make you feel?

(Laughs) How is that supposed to make me feel? It’s not like I planned it. It just happens to be so and I’m just watching. It can be a whole lot, but I’m coping and managing well.

How do you cope with the attention you get from your male admirers?

I think I’ve been able to manage it well because I just make sure that the person and I are on the same page. There’s usually an understanding and a boundary, so no one will feel bad or have a feeling of entitlement. We all understand that it doesn’t pass this level. They’re all my friends and that’s good enough.

Do you see yourself getting married to someone in the industry?

No, I don’t think so (Laughs).

Why not?

Personally, I wouldn’t want to, except God has another plan for me. Some people might disagree with me on this one, but I just feel that after the madness in the industry, I just want to go back home to sanity. You’ll just want to go back to being cool and having your peace, rather than going back to someone who’s also in that same madness.

I was talking to someone and the person said: “Chidinma, I don’t agree with you because I think the person will understand you and understand that this is what you do.” But I still don’t think I want to do that.

What is your candid view about the current state of the Nigerian music?

It is now far better than it used to be. Definitely, it can be better than it used to be. The game is changing, a lot of young people are coming in and the sound is changing. So, I just can’t wait; I know it’ll get better.

What local or foreign artiste do you look forward to working with?

I’d love to work with 2face (2Baba).  Actually, everybody wants to with him. I love the fact that even though he wants to make people happy, he still passes messages, which is very important to me. Internationally, I’d like to work with Alicia Keys.

How have you managed to remain relevant in this very competitive industry?

I think the secret is that I have tried to be myself over the years. I will also say it is because I do the kind of music that comes naturally to me; I don’t try to be someone else or try to fit into what is in vogue.

Do you ever feel intimidated considering your size?

Never! I know I have a very little stature, but I’ve never felt intimidated. Even when I was in the competition then, I never felt intimidated. I just did what I love to do, enjoyed myself, learnt, met people and had fun. So, this is the same thing I am doing right now.

What has been your biggest challenge so far in the industry?

Before now, the biggest challenge was working with male artistes in the same industry. Because the industry is male-dominated, one has to work twice as hard. But as it is, I think the females are doing better. You know, it’s a lot of fun. I’m so excited to see that you can mention male artistes as well as some female artistes too. In some events, you see only male artistes coming to perform. But now, it has changed.

What does the word Kedike mean?

It means heartbeat. It came up in the studio when Iwas working with Cohbams (Asuquo). There was just like a drum beat and I felt that sometimes that’s how the heartbeat sounds. So, it is like when you make my heart beat, you make my heart go Kedike.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Wow! It’s not even such a long time, though you might just think it is. But trust me, if you give birth to a child now, before you know it, people’ll be like, “Oh, this child is so grown…” It’s so short a time. We just think that it’s long, but a whole lot has to be done. For me, the music would have been most importantly more mature and appealing to a more mature audience. Everyone hopes for longevity, so I want to be able to do that kind of song that people won’t just stop listening to. That is what I actually pray and hope for, not just music for now.

What happened at the Elite Model 2014 competition when that guy was dancing?

The guy was dancing seriously and I was wondering what was going on becauuse we were not performing together. It was just like the guy was trying to take my performance away from me. He was so excited and was dancing seriously. He didn’t want to stop, so I had to leave him and move away.

Who is your ideal man?

(Sighs) Is there ever an ideal man? I think he’s just someone who understands me because I think that understanding is very key. He is someone with a very high level of understanding, intelligence and tolerance.

With this business of mine, it takes someone who is very patient because some guys would say: “You took a picture and the guy was holding you this way and that…” It’s crazy and it actually takes someone who understands, believes and trusts me totally. That is my definition of an ideal man. He doesn’t need to have all the money in the world. It’s very natural for girls to tell you that they want tall, dark and handsome guys.

But sometimes, it doesn’t work that way. I used to be like that back in the secondary school. My friends and I used to read a lot of Mills and Boons, so we had that idea of some tall, dark and handsome guys. But as you grow older, you understand that it doesn’t work that way. You just need someone who is like your other half.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming artistes?

Be yourself, trust yourself and trust the kind of music you do. Do not try to allow anything or anyone to speed up your process; so, just do what you have to do. Do the right thing, work hard and be consistent. Above all, put your trust in God.