| Cleo Ice Queen | |||||||
| Birth Name: | Clementina Mulenga | ||||||
| Birth Date: | 1989 6, df=y | ||||||
| Birth Place: | Lusaka, Zambia | ||||||
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Clementina Mulenga Masengu (born June 14, 1989), popularly known as Cleo Ice Queen,[1] [2] is a Zambian musician and television personality. To her music career, she has two successful albums and affiliations with international labels such as Def Jam Records,[3] Cleo has earned numerous accolades, including the Best Female Rapper Southern Africa at the 2021 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) [4] and Best Female Artiste Southern Africa at the 2022 All Africa Music Awards (Afrima).
Cleo rose to prominence in 2013 when she participated in the eighth season of the reality television series Big Brother Africa,[5] known as The Chase. She has won several awards, including the 2015 AFRIMMA Best Female in Southern Africa and the 2017 Best Female in the SunFm Kwacha Music Awards.
Born on June 14, 1989, Cleo grew up in a family of five with two brothers and two sisters. Her passion for hip hop music started at the young age of six, and by the time she was 11 years old,[6] she had already begun her music career. Cleo's interest in the entertainment industry was evident from a very young age, as she used to perform at her own parties starting from her fourth birthday.
At Banani International School, where the principal had built a recording studio, Cleo had her first studio experience. At the age of 16, she recorded and released her first single "Hands Up."
Cleo's moniker "Ice Queen" originates from her love for jewellery, which is commonly referred to as "ice" in hip hop slang.[7] In addition to her musical and brand ambassador work, Cleo has been featured in various publications. She was the cover story for the March 2014 issue of the Nigerian magazine VL! Magazine.[8] [9]
Engaging in humanitarian work, she served as a Global Citizen Ambassador, contributing to initiatives aimed at ending extreme poverty. Cleo is currently a Softcare ambassador, endorsing affordable and comfortable baby and women’s essentials. Her partnerships reflect her selfless commitment to assisting underprivileged individuals, guided by the motto, "To whom much is given, much is required." Cleo Ice Queen continues to break barriers in the entertainment industry, promising more success with each project. She is currently working on her third studio album.
Beyond her musical pursuits, she holds a certificate in Digital Marketing from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and currently pursuing a Marketing Degree at the University of Lusaka (UNILUS).
In 2011, Cleo started her music career, and the following year, she released a single titled "Big Dreams," featuring JK, which became a nationwide hit. She was also featured in the official remix of Khuli Chana's "Tswa Daar" song, which featured other popular African artists like Ice Prince, Maggz, Navio, AKA, and Reason. Cleo's debut album, "Geminice," was released in December 2016.[10] [11] The album has 14 songs, and the theme is inspired by her Gemini star sign. One part of the album comprises seven sentimental and lyrical songs, while the other seven songs are fun-loving and upbeat, including party anthems like the Urban Hype-featured "Turn Up," "Addicted," and "Autobahn."
In December 2016, Cleo released another single titled "Soldier,[12] [13] " produced by Kekero. On September 22, 2016, Cleo was the first Zambian artist to be selected for Season 2 of Coke Studio, a popular music television series in Africa. Together with Bucie and Mr Kamera, she created the song "Simunye" ("We are one"), which was a massive hit. The song celebrates African unity and oneness with a mix of Cleo's native tongue, Nyanja, and South African native tongue, Xhosa. It showcases how music has no language barriers.
In 2013 Mulenga gained national recognition as a participant in the eighth season of the reality television[14] series Big Brother Africa, which was produced by Endemol for M-Net. The show, which began on 26 May 2013, ran for 91 days and concluded on 25 August 2013. Mulenga spent the entirety of the season in the Big Brother house and emerged as the runner-up to Dillish Mathews, who won the 2013 season.[11] [2]
In 2015, Mulenga was chosen to host Bola Yapa Zed, a SuperSport football magazine show that exclusively focuses on Zambian football. The show is dedicated to bringing fans up-to-date information on all aspects of Zambian football, including news, interviews, and highlights. As the presenter of Bola Yapa Zed, Mulenga has become a well-known figure in the Zambian sports community.
On 22 September 2016, Cleo made history as the first Zambian artist to participate in Season 2 of Coke Studio,[15] a popular music television series in Africa that gives artists the opportunity to create new and innovative music. Cleo, also known as the "lady of rap," collaborated with Bucie, the "lady of house music," as well as super producer Mr Kamera, singer-songwriter Les-Ego, and master sound engineer Wilson. Together, they created the chart-topping hit, "Simunye" ("We are one"), which celebrates African royalty, unity, and oneness. The song features elements of Cleo's native Zambian language, Nyanja, as well as South African native tongue, Xhosa, and demonstrates the universality of music by transcending language barriers.
On 21 May 2017 Cleo was a special guest at the official launch of the African Hip Hop Awards 1 July[16] at Chez Intemba in Lusaka.[17]
Cleo is married to Kaladoshas and the couple has three children.
She is currently pursuing her Degree in Marketing at the University of Lusaka (UNILUS).
| Year | Award | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | South African Hip Hop Awards | Best Female | 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[18] | |
| 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 | Zambia Kwacha Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Won[19] | |
| 2019 | Zambia Kwacha Music Awards | Best Female | Won | |
| 2021 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Female Southern Africa | Won | |
| 2023 | African Entertainment Award USA | Best Female Africa | Won |