FROM BEING A SECULAR ARTISTE TO A GOSPEL ARTISTE
Chidinma Ekile
"The devil cannot create! He has to use what is already created, he corrupts, disrupts, but cannot create. The wise woman learns his devices. Once you have learnt what he’s trying to do, use your strength for positive purposes. Stop being seduced into using your abilities for what he is trying to grow.”
Chidinma is a Nigerian Singer, Performer and Songwriter who rose to fame after winning the popular singing show, "MTN Project Fame" in 2010. After the show, she released some songs which made her one of the most sought after female entertainers in the entertainment industry. After a while, not much was heard about her music. She deleted all her posts on Instagram until recently, on her birthday, when she shared the news of being a Gospel Minister and released a Gospel song titled "Jehovah Overdo". This sparked many comments from people with mixed reactions. Some happy while some were not. In all, God deserves the praise as she has been won to Christ.
Chidinma was born on the 2nd of May, 1990 in Ketu, Kosofe, Lagos to Mr and Mrs Ekile. She hails from Imo State, Nigeria. She was born blind until after 16 days when her sight was restored. She started singing at the age of 6. She always attributed her love for singing to her father who also deemed it fit for her to join the choir. She joined her Church choir at the age of 10 where people were wowed by her voice. She attended her Primary and Secondary School in Ketu before her family relocated to Ikorodu. She was about sitting for her Post University Matriculation Examination (Post UME) and worked as a business promoter in Lagos, when she auditioned for the singing competition, "MTN Project Fame, season 10. Out of 8000 people who auditioned, she was chosen with 17 others to continue into the academy. For 10 weeks, Chidinma and the other contestants were coached by musical professionals: voice coaches, inspirational speakers, established musicians, and music business service providers. Moreover, contestants were taught choreography and several rehearsal drills. On 26 September 2010, Chidinma became the apparent winner of the competition and was given 2.5 million, a Toyota Rav 4 vehicle and a 1 year recording deal.
After winning the competition, she recorded hit songs which brought her fame and money, including awards and ambassadorship. She worked with big names in the entertainment industry including Cobhams, T Y mix, Sound Sultan and many more. She is the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 chart. In 2012, at the Kora Awards, she beat Owamumi and several other huge acts to win the Best Female West African Act which was handed to her by Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba. In the same year, She also won Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Pop/RnB Artiste of the Year and Best New Act of the Year. In 2013, she won the Nigeria Video Music Award for best Pop Indigenous Concept, Headies Award for Best Vocal Performance, City People Entertainment Award for Musician of the Year and Best Collabo, Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted African Act. In 2014, she won Nigeria Music Video Award for Best Pop Extra Video, MTV Africa Video Awards for Best Female Musician, African Musik Magazine Awards for Best Female West African Act, Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Female Artiste and Best Music Video Award. She became an MTN Brand Ambassador in May, 2013. She set up a foundation known as "NMA Foundation" which stands for the last three letters of her name. The non-profit foundation caters for people who are visually impaired and helps them achieve some of their goals. Talking about her foundation, Chidinma once said: “I dedicate my entire life selflessly and earnings to catering to visually impaired/blind people. Life is such a wonderful and colourful piece of art and it must feel like hell not to envision God’s creation. The MMA Charity Foundation is my little give back to the world." She has done extensive work through her foundation in and outside Nigeria, notably in Togo where she worked with SOS village.
With a successful music career bringing along with it a busy schedule, she is trying to complete her studies in Sociology at the University of Lagos. Chidinma initially declined her admission into the University of Lagos due to her advancement in the aforesaid competition. In an interview with YNaija, Chidinma said that she has always taken school seriously and her decision to enroll at Unilag was inevitable. She also said that music hasn't always been on her agenda, and that she decided to give it a try after winning the MTN Project Fame competition. She also starred in her first movie in 2017 titled "The Bridge", which was released in cinemas nationwide on the 9th of December, 2017, alongside Nigerian actor Demola Adedoyin. The movie was produced by Lasun Ray and directed by Kunle Afolayan.
She also signed an ambassadorship deal with Molped.
After a while, not much of her music was heard. She deleted all her posts on Instagram. It was not until her birthday, May 2nd 2021 that she wrote "My name is Minister Chidinma. I am a Crusader of the Gospel of Christ." She also released a video of her first single titled "Jehovah Overdo". She is currently signed to Eezee Concept Global, same label with Mercy Chinwo, Judikay and GUC. When asked why she switched to Gospel, she said "God has been waiting for me. I had the privilege to spend time with Him and he spoke to me. I'm not here because I want money or fame. I've had my share of that. It's time to work for my Father. He is the one who has called me. Most of the times you might not understand my ways because a lot of time has been wasted so I need to catch up. I am going into this with full force. There are too many people out there that we need to bring back into the house. The enemy has won for far too long. There is no more time. This is for real. I'm not here to joke. There is no going back. It's not possible. I am an endtime soldier." Her new released song already has 1.9 million views on YouTube in its first week of release. According to the label, Chidinma took a break from music and the public eye and had to undergo a period of actively waiting on God and preparation for what is ahead.
We are excited that another soul has been won into the Kingdom of Christ. Just as Luke 15:7 says;
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Source
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