Afrobeats sensation Qing Madi has shared insight into her lifestyle choices, revealing why she avoids displaying her wealth on social media.
During a conversation on the Tea with Tay podcast, the singer explained that she prefers to keep her finances private so she isn’t judged or defined by how much she earns.
She noted that while financial stability has given her the freedom to shape her sound and artistic direction, she sometimes feels the pull of market trends and audience expectations.
“Sometimes I might fall victim to consumerism, because I’m like, oh, 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.
Speaking on the difference between artists’ income and that of regular workers, Qing Madi described music earnings as unusually high in comparison.
“When I look at the average Nigerian, and you see a person with a nine-to-five, they go to work, and at the end of the month, they get paid maybe a 500,000 salary. And you, as an artist, go for a show and let’s just say you get like 20 million for that one show. And it’s like, whoa,” she said.
The singer also highlighted the role music plays in the lives of many Nigerians, describing it as a coping mechanism in the absence of accessible mental health care.
“I believe the reason Nigeria loves music so much is that we don’t have therapists. It’s an escape because Nigerians are the most out-of-town people. Like we, even if we’re sad or depressed, we don’t take a break. We just have to get work done. So when they finally hear someone else repeating their story to them, it’s like, oh, okay,” she said.
