Rising Afrobeat sensation Qing Madi has added her voice to a growing and significant conversation about the challenges faced by women in the Nigerian music scene. In a candid discussion on the Wahala Podcast, the 19-year-old singer articulated a sentiment echoed by many of her peers, stating that the industry environment is particularly inhospitable and unsupportive for female artists.
Madi elaborated that a fundamental lack of protection and appreciation exists for women within the industry, leading to a disproportionately low reception of their work compared to their male counterparts.
“I think the [music] industry is not the best for women in terms of protecting women, loving women in general. Women have to do twice as much work as their male counterparts. Women are oftentimes criticised for nothing. But they don’t do that to the men,” she explained.
She emphasized that female musicians are frequently subjected to harsh and unjust criticism for matters that are overlooked when concerning male artists. This constant scrutiny, she noted, creates an immense pressure to perform at an exceptional level.
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“The men have the right to do whatever they like, but for the women, society just wants to box women so much. I go through that, which is crazy because I’m 19. So what do you want me to do? Women never get a break,” she revealed.
Qing Madi’s reflections directly align with longstanding grievances voiced by other leading women in Afrobeats. Tiwa Savage, often hailed as the “Queen of Afrobeats,” has consistently spoken out about the industry’s gender biases, from facing condescension in the studio to dealing with cyberbullying and threats that are rarely taken seriously.
Similarly, Simi has discussed the intense scrutiny female artists face regarding their personal lives and choices, a freedom often granted unconditionally to male artists.
Furthermore, Ayra Starr has been open about the pressure to conform to certain expectations and the constant need to prove her talent beyond that of her male colleagues.
