Qing Madi: I Struggled to Believe in My Dreams, Now I’m Living Them

Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, known as Qing Madi, is a vibrant 19-year-old singer, songwriter and dancer. Recently unveiled as a Maggi ambassador in Lagos, she shares her upbringing, love for cooking, personal fears and what drives her journey. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts:

Can you tell us about your growing up?

I was born and raised in Benin City, Edo State. I have a mum that loves to cook. It’s always been like a traditional role for the women to cook growing up. So I’ve seen that happen and I saw it more as a role rather than a hobby than something that was being enjoyed. But as I grew older, I understood that there’s beauty in cooking. There’s love in cooking. It’s also a way to express yourself. And growing to this person that now is an ambassador of a brand that also involves cooking majorly is something that’s astonishing for me as a young woman in my growth. I’m 19 years old. This is just something that is a huge watermark for me in my life. Cooking, culinary, everything food. It just means the world. That’s a piece of my growth.

Your toughest time growing up? 

The toughest time for me growing up was definitely when I felt like my reality did not match where I was. Because again, I was in a place where I felt like I couldn’t be who I think I am right now, which is a superstar. And I always felt like, oh, I’m not there yet. What’s going on? Is this my dream? Are my dreams not valid? Am I not going to be the person that I prayed to become? I feel like that was the toughest part. Believing that maybe my dreams were not as important. But as God will have it, I’m here right now.

 What drives you? 

My number one driver is my mother. She is the person, the force behind everything that I do and I create. She’s the reason for it. And I believe she’s one of the main reasons why I’m here right now. 

What’s your message to young people?

My message to the younger ones is, especially with this Maggi and Madi collaboration, my message to you guys is to embrace culinary. Those that love it as a hobby. Those that love it as anything, as a role. I want you to fall in love with Maggi as you’re cooking. It’s not just an ingredient. It is a feeling. It is a moment. I want you to love it as much as you love my music. You could do anything. You could play music and enjoy it.

How do you feel being unveiled as Maggi brand ambassador? What does the endorsement and collaboration mean to you?

I feel amazing and it means the world. This is a huge collaboration for me. I love it so much. This is something that I’m very proud of, and I’m super blessed to be part of the next campaign. I feel super excited. This collaboration and partnership definitely represent my generation, the women, the girls, because we have a bunch of girls that have fallen in love with the culinary section as a hobby, as something that they enjoy doing. So seeing a representation of them as an ambassador for Maggi already shows them how much Maggi enjoys their company along their journey. I think the other video they did, the ambassadorship, they did it on a tour bus, literally in a university. So they know they’re always rooting for the kids. Maggi Star is always rooting for the kids. They’re always rooting for us. I’m just grateful that this time they were like, we’re more music. So there’s no section, there’s no sector, there’s no limit to Maggi. I’m just grateful that this type of platform is accommodating people like myself. So yeah, I’m super hyped.