Why I keep my wealth secret – Qing Madi opens up

Afrobeats singer Chimamanda Chukwuma, popularly known as Qing Madi, has revealed that she intentionally keeps her wealth private, choosing not to display her lifestyle on social media.

The fast-rising artiste made this known during a recent appearance on the Tea with Tay podcast, where she spoke about her personal values, career choices, and the realities of the Nigerian music industry.

According to her, the decision to maintain a low profile financially is driven by her desire not to be defined solely by money or material success.

Qing Madi explained that while financial freedom has given her creative control over her music, she sometimes feels the pressure to align with what audiences want.

“Sometimes I might fall victim to consumerism, because I’m like, at the end of the day, they like this one, so it’s fine. But it doesn’t mean that I’m going to reduce the quality of what I make to fit what people desire,” she said.

The singer also drew attention to the wide income gap between artistes and average workers, likening earnings in the music industry to “drug money” due to how significantly it differs from typical salaries.

“You see someone working a nine-to-five earning maybe ₦500,000, and then an artist performs at one show and earns about ₦20 million. It’s like, whoa,” she said.

Speaking further, Qing Madi highlighted the role music plays in the lives of Nigerians, describing it as an emotional outlet in a society where mental health support is often limited.

“I believe the reason Nigeria loves music so much is that we don’t have therapists. It’s an escape… Even when people are sad or depressed, they don’t take a break. So when they hear someone else telling their story, it resonates,” she added.