Cleo Ice Queen
Clementina Mulenga, known professionally as Cleo Ice Queen, is a Zambian rapper, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Widely regarded as one of the most influential female hip hop artists in Southern Africa, she is noted for her sharp lyricism, stage presence, and pioneering role in popularizing Zambian hip hop across the continent.
Cleo began her music career in the late 2000s and gained continental recognition in 2013 as a housemate on the eighth season of Big Brother Africa: The Chase. She released her debut studio album Geminice in 2016, followed by Leaders of the New School in 2020, both achieving critical and commercial success in Zambia. Her signing with Def Jam Records expanded her profile internationally and positioned her among Africa’s leading rap voices.
She has earned numerous accolades, including Best Female Rapper – Southern Africa at the 2021 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) and Best Female Artiste – Southern Africa at the 2022 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). Earlier in her career, she received Best Female in Southern Africa at the 2015 AFRIMMA and Best Female at the 2017 Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards.
Outside of music, Cleo has worked extensively in television as a presenter, mentor, and brand ambassador, and is recognized as a cultural icon in Zambia for her contributions to music, entertainment, and youth empowerment.
Early life and career
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, 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. 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.
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 and currently pursuing a Marketing Degree at the University of Lusaka.
Professional music
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. 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," 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", 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.
Television
In 2013 Mulenga gained national recognition as a participant in the eighth season of the reality television 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.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.