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Cleo Ice Queen

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For the South African DJ, see DJ Cleo.
Cleo Ice Queen
File:Cleo Ice Queen.jpg
Cleo in 2016
Born
Clementina Mulenga

(1989-06-14) 14 June 1989 (age 35)[1]
Lusaka, Zambia
Other names
  • Cleo Ice Queen[2]
Occupations
Spouse
Kalale Masengu
​
(m. 2019)​
Musical career
Genres
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2011–present
Websitewww.cleoicequeen.com

Clementina Mulenga (born 14 June 1989), professionally known as Cleo or Cleo Ice Queen[3][4] is a Zambian born hip hop recording artist and television and radio presenter. She has been a Proflight Zambia brand ambassador,[5] as well as a Maximum Diva Woman Condom brand ambassador,[6][7] She is best known for her role in Big Brother Africa (The chase)[8] in 2013 and 2015 winner of AFRIMMA Best Female in Southern Africa, 2017 winner Best Female in the SunFm Kwacha Music Awards.

Cleo got her moniker "Ice Queen" from her love of jewelry, which in hip hop slang, is known as "ice".[1] Cleo was also featured in the 2014 March issue of a Nigerian Magazine VL! Magazine as the cover story.[9][10]

Early life and career

Clementina Mulenga was born on 14 June 1989. She is third out a family of 5 with two brothers and two sisters. Cleo's love for hip hop began when she was six years old. She began her singing career when she was 11 years old[11] at that age, her passion for the entertainment industry begun. From Cleo's own words she says that she wanted to be behind the microphone from the time she was 4 years old. Cleo used to perform at her own parties starting with her 4th birthday. Cleo had her first studio experience while at Banani International School where the school principal built a recording studio at the school. At the age of 16 Cleo recorded and released her first single Hands Up.

Professional music

Cleo started her music career in 2011 and the following year she released a single titled "Big Dreams" which featured JK. It was a nationwide hit. Cleo was then featured in Khuli Chana's official "Tswa Daar" song remix which also featured Ice Prince, Maggz, Navio, AKA and Reason.

In 2013, on 25 October Cleo visited the inmates of Lusaka Central Prison not only to just sing and dance for the independence day celebrations, but also donated some goods.

Cleo's debut album was released in December 2016 titled Geminice.[12][13] Which has 14 songs and theme of the album is inspired by her Gemini star sign. One part of the album has seven sentimental and lyrical songs, while the other seven songs are fun-loving and upbeat, with party anthems like the Urban Hype featured "Turn Up", "Addicted" and "Autobahn".

Cleo released another single in December 2016 titled Soldier[14][15] produced by Kekero, a melodic side of rap. In the song she talks about the appreciation to the an African man and this was Cleo's inspiration. All women have that one Soldier in their lives be it father's, brother's, spouses, nephew's and this song is one way or another dedicated to them.

Television

In 2013 Cleo was picked to represent Zambia during the eighth season of the Big Brother Africa reality television series,[16] produced by Endemol for M-Net which began on 26 May 2013, running for 91 days and ending on 25 August 2013. Cleo[13] was in the house for 91 days she came out as the runner-up from Dillish who won 2013's The Chase season.[3]

In 2015 SuperSport Launched a football magazine show called Bola Yapa Zed[13] focusing only on Zambian football and Cleo was chosen to be the presenter.

Coke Studio

Introducing Coke Studio at a glittering preview event in Lusaka, Cleo said: "Making music is an amazing journey, and Coke Studio really shows the talent, effort and fun that artists put into their craft. I’m just so pleased that Zambian music fans can now have a chance to share that passion on QTV."[17]

— Cleo speaking in an interview.

On 22 September 2016 Cleo was the first Zambian artist to be picked for the Season 2 of Coke Studio [18] a music television series in Africa where artists are given the opportunity to create something new and exciting, Cleo the lady of rap, together with the lady of house music, Bucie teamed up with super producer Mr Kamera, singer-songwriter, Les-Ego and master sound engineer, Wilson. The song, Simunye (We are one) was a massive hit, talking about African royalty, unity and oneness with a touch of Cleo's Zambian tongue, Nyanja and a touch of South African native tongue, Xhosa. This song shows how music has no language barriers.

African Hip-Hop Awards

On 21 May 2017 Cleo was a special guest at the official launch of the African Hip Hop Awards 1 July[19] at Chez Intemba in Lusaka.[20]

Education

Cleo attended her primary school at Namununga and then did her secondary education at Banani International School as well as Rhodes Park School She enrolled for college education at Midrand Graduate Institute in South Africa. She later dropped out due to family financial difficulties and started to focus on her musical talent and presenting skills.

While at Banani International School, her love for music and basketball escalated. At the age of 13 she won her first award as the best junior basketball player. Cleo was involved in many extracurricular activities as she played for the basketball, Netball, football and Volleyball teams.

At the age of 15, Cleo won a nationwide competition called Back to School with a million[16] a talent show to sing or dance against HIV/AIDS.

Ice Queen then moved to South Africa[16] in 2007 to further her education at Midrand Graduate Institution and pursued a degree in Business Administration, Majoring in Public Relations. In an interview with Slam Dunk Cleo explains that her move to South Africa was to attend college, which forced her to put music on hold for a while, but in 2011 Cleo decided to pursue music as a career.[11]

Personal life

Cleo Ice Queen is married and chooses to keep her personal life private.[21]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2012 South African Hip Hop Awards Best Female Rapper Nominated
2013 Born & Bred Awards Best Female Up coming Nominated
2014 Zambian Music Awards Best New Artist Nominated
2015 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female Southern Africa Won[5]
2016 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female Southern Africa Nominated
2016 Zambian Music Awards Best Female Nominated
2017 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female Southern Africa Nominated
2017 Kwacha Music Awards Best Female Artist Won[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ice Queen Artist Profiles". Coke Studio. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  2. ^ "UP CLOSE WITH CLEO THE ICE QUEEN". Times of Zambia. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Cleo Ice Queen Shows Off Her Adorable Daughter". BBA Fan Club. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  4. ^ "UPDATE: Upcoming female rapper Ice Queen". Lusak Times. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Cleo Ice Queen 'Turns Up'". Lusaka Voice. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Mwansa Bwale's Single Moms Club celebrates 1st Anniversary". Lusak Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Meet Our Certified Maximum Diva: Cleo Ice Queen". Smart Choices. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Cleo Ice Queen Delivers a Bouncing Baby Girl". Zedhypemag.com. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Cleo Stuns on the Cover of VL! Magazine March Issue". Afrika Daily. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  10. ^ "VL! Magazine Exclusive Interview With Big Brother Finalist Cleo". Jaguda. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Cleo Ice Queen". Hip Hop African. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Cleo Ice Queen releases "Geminice" Track-list". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Album Review : Cleo Ice Queen -Geminice". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Cleo Ice Queen – "Soldier" (Prod. Kekero)". Zambian Music Blog. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Behind the Scenes of Cleo Ice Queen's new video "Soldier"". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  16. ^ a b c "Sheer Publishing rapping sensation joins Big Brother Cast". Cleo Ice Queen Blogspot. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  17. ^ "STARS ROCK TO COKE STUDIO BEAT". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Cleo Ice Queen shooting for Coke Studio season 2". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  19. ^ "African Hip Hop Awards To Be Launched in Lusaka". Palesa Mokoena. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Cleo Ice Queen to host the official launch of the African Hip Hop Awards". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Photo: Cleo and Kaladoshas Secretly Wed". 10 July 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  22. ^ "2017 Kwacha Music Awards Complete Winners List". Zambian Music Blog. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
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