Munachi Abii…Beauty Queen, Rapper, Songwriter Steps Up In Indigo

WHEN ex-Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) queen, Munachi Gail Teresa Abii Nwankwo, popularly known as Munachi Abii, delved into music, only a few people believed in her craft.

Since her debut single, she has attracted very good review because of her lyrical skill and good rap. Collaborating with notable artistes like Terry da Rapman for the critically acclaimed My PH Girl, and Waje on I Am so Inspired, a song that focused on determination and tenacity, she has been able to proven that she is not all beauty.

She is, however, set to show her acting skills with her debut in the upcoming TV series, Indigo. With this development, it seems the gorgeous rapper has gone past the period when she lost faith in herself

The rapper, who has been sharing behind-the-scenes photos from the series on her official social media pages, stated that she wasn’t even sure she could act, “but with the amount of soul searching and rediscovery I have been doing lately, I decided to take a chance on myself.”

She recently shared one with the caption: “@majorboy8 believed in me and told me to #DoIt in the most comical way I have seen. So I said #AdventureTime. I know that things can only get better from here on out… Watch out for #INDIGO #Series coming soon.”

Born and raised in Port Harcourt, the Owerri, Imo state indigene was encouraged by her family to pursue her passion for music and arts. Prior to winning the MBGN crown, Muna had performed as part of Port Harcourt-based rap group, The Specimen A.

Contrary to popular belief, Muna did not start her music career with rap group Ijaw Boyz, though she did perform with them as a guest artiste. As a solo rapper, she performed as Babyrella before changing her stage name to Muna.

As a songwriter, she has written songs for artistes including J Martins and Waje, and has also appeared in several music videos, most notably in P-Square’s Ifunanya. In June 2010, after years of collaborating with various artistes, Muna signed a multi-year management contract with Ayo Shonaiaya’s RMG Company, and began working on her debut album The Goddess, The Hustler, which will include the singles, I Feel Real, and Killer Queen.

During a recent interview, she said: “In the beginning, I was a rebel, but I didn’t love myself. I wasn’t looking at how far I had already come. I focused on where I felt I should have been; I didn’t see my blessings as blessings. If anyone told me I was beautiful, I would argue with that person. I thought that was humility.

“It got so bad that I felt I didn’t deserve any praise I got. I felt they were lies, and when love found me, I would find ways to jeopardise it or run from it. How can you love me and yet, all I have ever wanted was to love and be loved? What is love? Could this be love?” she asked.

She continued: “At a point, I was looking at a ‘space’ that didn’t exist, which I probably created in my own mind. A lady said to me: “Muna you are getting fat, and I said thank you, I am eating well. She said: “So you like it? I said, yes, I love myself. The moral of the story is that when you love yourself, you can do anything. It’s not pride, it’s not arrogance; it is a healthy mind.”

Like a combatant soldier, Muna has had her share of bullets in the war zone music industry, as she, in April 2012, was involved in a war of words controversy with veteran rapper Mode 9, when, as the host of the Nokia-sponsored rap competition, Don’t Break The Beat, she disagreed with Mode 9’s comments.

This sparked off a major argument that resulted in her snapping at the rapper to ‘Pass the mic’, a phrase that has since become associated with both artistes. The incident became a national topic of discussion when the video of the exchange went viral on YouTube, whilst fans of many took to Twitter, blogs and other social media sites to berate the ex-beauty queen.

Though many had expected there was going to be a public beef and diss tracks from both act, but like a mature and peace loving beauty queen she is, Muna, on a flight to Dubai, called Mode 9 on the phone, and also tweeted an apology to him publicly online.

On May 31, 2012, at the popular Lagos midweek concert ‘Industry Nite’ (which celebrated Muna’s two new rap singles), Muna called up Mode 9, they both hugged and performed a freestyle version of Notorious B.I.G’s Juicy.

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