In an interview with Punch, Maheeda opens up about her background. She
talks about being an orphan and how she worked as a bar attendant,
waitress and a
prostitute just to survive.
Excerpt below
Background
My name is Caroline Sam but my stage name
is Maheeda. I am an orphan. I really did not know my mother and I never
met my father. My mother died and I was all alone. When I was 14, I
decided to hit the streets and I started fending for myself. I did a lot
of funny jobs. Worked as a bar attendant, waitress and was a
prostitute just to survive. Along the line I got pregnant. I am just a
very strong woman who is trying to make a difference. Maybe I started
off not too good, I have realised that whatever happens in your past,
you have to use it in a positive way that will benefit you and your
family.
Me and music
I have always loved music and attention. I
started about ten years ago. I don’t have any albums yet but I have
quite a number of singles. All I can say is that the way I want to do my
thing is not acceptable in Nigeria. It has been hard and it’s still
hard for me to achieve. Currently, I am in Nigeria to spend Christmas
and I am also seizing the opportunity to shoot a video for my single,
‘Naija bad girl’. Apart from music, I am also a model and acting is
another passion of mine.
Nu*de pictures
It is deliberate. I know what I am doing.
The pictures are not targeted at anything. It is all about attention
and there is no mistake about it. This business of music is called
showbusiness and I am convinced I am on the right track. I owe no
apologies. I just realised this way will be a faster hit than any other
way. The pictures are working for me.
Criticisms
In this life, everybody gets criticised
whether you do good or bad. I have read and heard so much about me that I
am now used to it. Thanks to them, they have helped me develop a thick
skin.
Relationship
I am married and my husband is Dutch.
What I am doing is not alien to him or his family and he understands. I
met him at a bar when he just came to Nigeria. We are happily married.
Even before we got married, he understood my kind of person. He was
aware of my vision. He has always been supportive. He just laughs
whenever he comes across any of my pictures. It’s in Africa that we
attach much importance to such things and consider it sacrilegious.
My daughter can’t do this
I am 31 and I had my daughter when I was
17. I do not think this is going to affect her in any way. If my mother
did something like this; there is no way it would have affected me. My
daughter is not even aware these nu*de pictures exist even though she has
seen pictures of me in bikini. She is not even allowed access to the
social media. Even if she gets to view them eventually, it’s not going
to mean anything to her because she has the European mentality. When my
daughter is 18, then she can decide what she wants. Currently, she is
under my care and I won’t let her do what I am doing.
Nu*de pictures and music
So far, it has worked and it’s still
working. As you can see, there’s so much attention on me. All of a
sudden, people want to listen to my old singles and are looking forward
to my debut album.
Friendship
I have quite a few of them. Don Jazzy is
my friend, Olamide and Phyno just to mention but a few. Gospel artistes?
No, but I became a born-again Christian and decided that I wanted to
continue with secular music. Whether people accept it or not, I am a
born-again Christian and that is why I describe my music as honest
music. I am not perfect but I’m just living my life in the best possible
way.
Style
I like to feel comfortable. When I dress,
I want to be me not caring what the next person thinks. I also like to
go to the gym to keep fit. When you are fit, clothes look fabulous on
you.
