Chukwuka Ekweani, known globally as CKay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer who pioneered the “Emo Afrobeats” sound fusing traditional African rhythms with raw, emotionally vulnerable lyricism and R&B sensibilities. He is best known for his record breaking global smash, “Love Nwantiti.”
Early Life & The Move to Lagos
Born on December 16, 1995, in Kaduna to Igbo parents from Anambra State, CKay’s musical foundation started at home. His father, a choir conductor at their local church, introduced him to the piano at age seven. As a teenager, a friend introduced him to the beat making software Fruity Loops, sparking an obsession with music production.
Driven by his passion, CKay faced resistance from his parents who did not approve of a career in music. At 19, during his first year of university, he made a dramatic choice: he ran away from home, sending his mother a long explanatory letter via BlackBerry and relocated to Lagos to chase his dreams. He initially stayed with a friend, eventually earning enough as a producer working across various studios to rent his own single room apartment.
From Producer to Frontman
CKay’s career in Lagos officially began behind the boards. He was discovered by Loopy Music (which later merged with Chocolate City) and officially joined their roster in 2016. As a producer, he crafted beats for heavyweights like M.I Abaga before stepping up to the microphone himself.
His debut EP, Who the F*ck Is CKay? (2017), announced his arrival as a solo artist, fueled by the South African influenced hit “Container”. However, it was his sophomore EP, CKay the First (2019), that changed the trajectory of his career.
The Global Explosion
The second track on “CKay the First” was a sleeper hit called “Love Nwantiti”. Initially gaining traction locally, a 2020 remix featuring Joeboy and Kuami Eugene (titled “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)”) set off a global firestorm. The track exploded across platforms like TikTok and Shazam, eventually:
* Topping charts in over 30 countries.
* Becoming the first solo Nigerian song to join Spotify’s 1 Billion Streams Club.
* Earning him the title of the first African artist to reach 20 million monthly Spotify listeners.
Discography & Evolution
CKay refers to his style as “Emo-Afrobeats”, blending classical chord progressions with Afropop percussion and themes of romance, vulnerability and heartbreak.
Now signed to Warner Music Africa and Atlantic Records, CKay continues to shape the cinematic and emotional boundaries of Afrobeats, transitioning from a determined runaway in Lagos to one of the genre’s most versatile global exports.