Chidinma Ekile, Miss ‘Kedike’ covers Vibe Magazine, opens up on her journey to Stardom

Nigerian singer-songwriter and project fame West Africa 3rd edition winner, Chidinma Ekile, popularly known by her stage name Chidinma, is the latest cover star for Vibe.ng Magazine.

The 26-year-old opened up on her music life, Flavour, her journey to stardom and more.

Read excerpts from her interview below

On her bad habits: Hmm, bad habits? I am not sure they are up to 3. I want to smile less. YES. Because I smile a lot and people sometimes tend to see that as a weakness.

On her rise to stardom: Music was never part of the big picture until Project Fame. I’d always seen myself as a broadcaster. I wanted to be on the radio. I just wanted to gain some experience. I wanted to meet people because prior to that time, I was always home. I just wanted to go out and talk to new people. That was the motive behind it.

On her signature haircut: First of all, only my sister touches and makes my hair and at some point, she had to travel and then I tried to make my hair somewhere else with other people but my hair began to fall off. So I thought to myself. I need to cut this hair. I also wanted a different look.

I remember the first time I cut my hair. The moment I did and I had a shoot, I was almost crying like -oh my God, I’m bald- but immediately I took the pictures, I just fell in love and ever since, I’ve been rocking it.

Her stormy days and how she weathers them…

November 2013 was not necessarily the best of months for Chidinma. An explicit sextape of an unknown guy and a girl who shared a striking resemblance with Ms Kedike, had hit the internet hard. Tongues wagged and opposing groups formed on social media; arguing and analyzing if she was the one or not. Although she never esperred it, she didn’t let it faze her too much.

�I wasn’t expecting it, I mean, I knew something was going to come up sometime but not that early and definitely not something that huge but yeah, I saw it as one of those things.

I WAS SAD. I WAS LIKE -WHO DID THIS TO ME? WHO DID I OFFEND THAT HAS REFUSED TO FORGIVE ME?

I remember talking to Sound Sultan and he was like welcome to the industry.” She mimics his voice while chuckling in between her sentence.

Following when she spoke up about the incident, news that made rounds in the media claimed she said she was still a virgin. In curiosity, I ask if that sexual status has changed. She replies in comic confusion.

�I don’t even know where that came from. I never told anyone if I was a virgin or not.”

When asked how she handles her rough patches, she reveals the only being she takes her situations to.

�I JUST PRAY. I FOCUS ON GOD BECAUSE IN HIM LIES MY SAFETY. I’M GUARANTEED THAT IN HIM, LIES MY SANITY. SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT I AM GOING THROUGH THAT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE TAKING TOO LONG, OR IS NEVER GOING TO END, OR IS TOO BIG, I JUST GO TO HIM.”

Men and how she likes them…not

If you have intentions of trying to kick it with Chidinma, here’s a cheat code for you. She cannot stand men with bad breath and if you’re a talkative, you are very likely to tick her off.

Quite an alarming number of men are romantically attracted to her. The other day, it was Lil Kesh telling us why she would make a perfect wife for him.

Confirming that she is in the know of her widely perceived girl-next-door vibe, she hints her unavailability.

�IT’S A GOOD THING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE WITH CHIDINMA BUT I DON’T THINK CHIDINMA WANTS TO BE WITH ANYBODY RIGHT NOW”

She adds that she has been proposed to a gazillion times but she is just not ready yet.

Switching the focus to her much talked about affiliation with the baby boy of indigenous Afro-highlife �Flavour, she jumps at the question like she’s been waiting for it.

Vibe: …People think both of you are an item becau…

Chidinma: (Interrupts with vehement passion) and people will think that for a very long time. Trust me, we have such a beautiful chemistry. Our working relationship is awesome. I can tell you that for a fact. It’s so beautiful and it is very stress-less. When we are in the studio, a lot of things happen. A lot of magic happens. We make magic. It’s just natural. I don’t even know where it came from.