Chidinma Ekile Talks Delving Into Acting & Hugging Stardom...

Chidinma Ekile in a chat with Adetutu Audu revealed how she delved into acting and hugged stardom.

You are a music star, at what point did you delve into acting?

I just got a call from Kunle Afolayan. He didn’t know before then that I wanted to act. I even asked him, ‘Why did you call me? I don’t understand.’

He told me: ‘You’re a musician; you shoot music videos,’ and from the way he saw me on screen, he thought that I would at least know a few things and if I had any challenges, he would definitely put me through. I got on set and it was one of the best things I’d ever done. I definitely loved the experience.

Can you recall some of your memorable moments since you hugged stardom?

After winning the project fame, it gave me a much-needed musical experience and career advancement. The visuals for “Emi Ni Baller” made me the first female singer to get to the number 1 position on the Naija Top 10 by MTV. Collaborations with other talented singers and producers allowed me to create truly high-quality music which was appreciated by music lovers. Again in 2012, I won the Kora Awards in the category of Best Female Act. The prize was presented to me by Didier Drogba. In 2012, I was nominated for the Best New Act of the Year and Best Pop/RnB Artiste of the Year. In 2013, I was nominated for the Channel O Music Video Awards for the Most Gifted African West and at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for the Best Collaboration. I was nominated at the City People Entertainment Awards for the Musician of the Year (female) and Best Collaboration of the Year (Oh Baby, featuring Flavor). In 2014, I was nominated at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for the Best Pop/ RnB Artiste of the Year, Best Music Video of the Year (Artiste and Director) and Best Collaboration.

I was nominated at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 for Best Female, at the Headies for Best Collaboration Video of the Year (Emi ni baller, featuring Illbliss and Tha Suspect), Best Afro Hip Hop Video. I won the Best Pop Extra Video Awards at the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA). I won the Student Choice Best RnB /Pop Artiste of the Year at the Nigerian Oscar Award 2015.