Aphroden spotlight: Chidinma Ekile

Chidinma Ekile hails from Imo State and is the last born of six siblings. She was raised in Ketu, Lagos and was born on the 2^nd of May in the late 80s. Before entering for Project Fame West Africa 3 where she emerged tops, she was a business promoter in Lagos. The first female winner from the Project Fame Competition started singing at the early age of six and had a rough childhood growing up with a disciplinarian father. As a young child, she was also quiet and extremely reserved because her parents were trying to protect her and her siblings from the harsh environment they grew up in. Due to this, it wasn’t easy keeping friends and having fun like every other normal child. Chidinma who discovered Project Fame in 2009 followed keenly and after a close friend encouraged her to try, she caught a bus from Ikorodu to Ultima Studios where the audition was taking place and joined the long queue with only four hundred naira in her pocket. She was shortlisted among the top eighteen and on September 26^th 2011, she joined the league of past winners. ‘Miss Kedike’ who studies at the University of Lagos had her primary and secondary education in Lagos. Petite Chidinma who was only a church singer before taking part in the music competition won the KORA award in 2013 for Best Female Artist and was excited as she claimed it expanded her African market. In her words, “It was an achievement as she didn’t see such coming in the early stage of her career. Chidinma loves singing, listening to the radio and cooking and says she’s working in the studio, more singles, more videos and more collaborations. She loves black, red and blue and enjoys eating amala and efo riro (vegetable soup). Her role model is her beautiful mother and she is inspired by Bob Marley, Onyeka Onwenu, Lagbaja, Darey Art Alade and Omawumi Megbele. She also would love to work with Tuface Idibia. When asked the biggest challenge in the industry, she says its piracy and that she hopes the government can with their powers help. Chidinma’s genre of music is African, afrocentric pop and she is an African culture lover as she displays such in her. Some things changed about her, like her hairstyle which she changed to a low cut. Chidinma claims the lowcut was originally an experiment and is currently a signature look for her. The name ‘Chidinma’ has become synonymous with the music Industry. She’s currently with Capital Hill Records working with IllBliss, ThaSuspect and Tesh Carter. She has also worked with notable producers like Cobhams Asuquo, TY Mix, Jay Martins, Eldee etc. Her first single was ‘Jankoliko’ and featured Nigerian music veteran, Sound Sultan. The video was directed by award winning cinematographer, Clarence Peters. So far, Chidinma has up to seven songs: ‘Jankoliko’ featuring Sound Sultan, ‘Kedike’ with appearance from Dammy Krane, ‘Run dia Mouth’, ‘Emi Ni Baller’ with Tha Suspect, IllBliss and Wizkid on the remix.     By: Franklin Ugo

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