Nigeria: Qing Madi named Apple Music Up Next artist

The Up Next artist development programme was launched in 2017 with the goal of spotlighting and supporting emerging acts.

Qing Madi, whose music fuses Afrobeats, pop, soul and R&B, joins fellow Nigerians Wavy The Creator, Rema, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi and Tems, all of whom have previously appeared on the artist development initiative.

As the latest Up Next Nigeria artist, Qing Madi will be featured on Apple Music’s dedicated playlist, which showcases a dynamic class of new and emerging artists hand picked by the platform’s editors from around the world. The playlist is genre-agnostic and represents a line-up of artists the digital streaming platform’s global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience.

“Being chosen for this month’s Apple Music Up Next programme is a dream come true at 17,” Qing Madi said. “I hope to give a voice to all teenagers across Nigeria and Africa, to confirm that their dreams are valid.”

Born Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, Qing Madi hails from Benin City and is behind songs like ‘See Finish’ and ‘Journey’, as well as a recent eponymous EP. She is currently signed to Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment.

An alumna of Spotify’s EQUAL Africa music programme, Qing Madi was earlier this month named by music video network Vevo among a cohort of artists poised for a global breakthrough in 2024.