CKay | |
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 CKay during an interview in March 2022 | |
| Born | Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani[1] (1995-07-16)16 July 1995 (age 30) Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Education | Zamani College, Kaduna State |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2016–present |
| Agent | Joseph Salubi |
| Works | Discography |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels |
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| Website | ckay-music |
Musical artist | |
Chukwuka Chukwuma Ekweani (born 16 July 1995), better known by his stage nameCkay (stylized asCKay), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Boyfriend Music,Warner Music Africa (formerly known as; Warner Music South Africa) andAtlantic Records.[2][3] He was formerly signed toChocolate City, a member ofWarner Music Group independent label servicesADA. His international hit single "Love Nwantiti", also known as "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ahh)", was released in 2019 by Chocolate City.
On 29 March 2022, the song debuted at number one, following the launch of theBillboard Afrobeats chart.[4] On 9 May 2022, it became the first-ever African song to surpass one billion streams onSpotify and has since been deemed "the biggest hit in African history".[5][6]Asa Asika signed Ckay to The Plug, under management during the early peak of his global career as Ckay's manager.[7]
Chukwuka Ekweani was born inKaduna, a state in the north-western region of Nigeria. He is ofIgbo descent fromAnambra State, located in the southeastern part of Nigeria. His love for music was driven by his father, who was a choir conductor at their local church.[8] While growing up, he was moved by musical instruments,[8] which prompted him to learn the piano from his father.[9] Thereafter, a friend introduced him to the production softwareFruity Loops.[9] Chukwuka started off his music career as a member of a band, made up of him and two other bandmates, before beginning his solo career as CKay.[8]
In 2014, he relocated to Lagos after he got discovered. While signed to Loopy Music, he began working withChocolate City, in early 2015.[10] On 6 May 2016, he released apromotional single titled "Bad Musician Bad Producer", with its instrumental made available for free downloads across all Nigerian blogs for commercial use for covers, club, and airplay. Following the merger of Loopy Music in 2016, he officially joined Chocolate City artist roster in August 2016.[11] On 23 October 2016, "Bad Musician Bad Producer" cover by Kelly Joe,[12] was nominated byTNMA and earned CKay, a special recognition. On 11 September 2017, he releasedWho the F*ck Is CKay? - ep,[13] throughChocolate City.
On 2 March 2018, he released "Container", an Afrobeat record influenced by the South Africangwara gwara dance style. The song became a breakthrough record in Nigeria and earned him substantialairplay. It was released through Chocolate City, and was produced byTempoe.[14] On 6 July 2018, he released the music video, directed and shot by the Myth.[15] On 30 August 2019, he released his second extended playCKay the First throughChocolate City.[16] The "EP" spawned the hit track "Love Nwantiti", which became a major record in Nigeria. On 14 February 2020, CKay released a remix titled "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)" featuringJoeboy andKuami Eugene. In 2021, it went viral onTikTok[17] and became an international hit, charting across Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, also reaching number 23 in the UK[18] and earned him his first entry on the USBillboard Hot 100. A North African remix featuringElGrande Toto became popular in the Maghreb countries and in Germany. A French remix featuredFranglish, a German remix featuring Frizzo, Joeboy, and Kuami Eugene, the Spanish version with De La Ghetto, the East African remix featuringRayvanny, and a South African remix featuringTshego andGemini Major.
On 13 November 2020, he appeared on the song "La La" fromDavido's studio albumA Better Time, released throughDavido Music Worldwide,RCA Records, andSony Music. On 11 February 2021, he released his thirdepBoyfriend throughWarner Music South Africa.[19] On 4 May 2021, CKay tweeted “I'm NOT signed to Chocolate City. I'm signed to Warner Music South Africa.”[20] On 28 July 2021, he received aSilver Creator Award from YouTube, at 100k subscribers.[21] On 6 August 2021, he appeared on the song "Beggie Beggie" fromAyra Starr's debut studio album19 & Dangerous, released throughMavin Records. On 8 October 2021, Ckay became the first African artist to hit 20 Million Spotify Listeners, with over 21 million monthly listeners on his Spotify page.[22] On 3 November 2021, he reviled his record deal withAtlantic onPower 99.1 FM.[23] On 3 December 2021, CKay released "Emiliana", and "By Your Side" featuringBlxckie.[24] On 1 April 2022, the music video was released and directed by Mosh.[25] Emiliana charted across Europe, and Africa, also reaching number 9 in France[26] and earning him, his first top 5 ranking on the NigeriaTurnTable Top 50 chart. On 26 May 2022, Emiliana was certified platinum in France.[27]
On 24 May 2022,Starr's "Beggie Beggie" earned him, a special recognition atThe Headies, in theBest Collaboration category. On 17 June 2022, he released "Watawi", featuringDavido,Focalistic, and Abidoza, which peaked at number 13 on Nigeria'sTurnTable Top 50 and was accompanied by a music video, directed by Dalia Dias. On 20 June 2022, CKay became the second African artist to reach 1.2 billion streams and was surpassed by 200 million streams fromBurna Boy, as the most-streamed with a total of 1.4 billion streams.[28] In August 2022, CKay surpassed 100 Million Streams OnBoomplay, and was given a golden club plaque fromBoomplay.[29] According to Boomplay statistics, CKay music was part of 3,549 playlists, with over 120 countries enjoying and streaming Ckay songs on Boomplay as of 18 August 2022.[29]
On 27 August 2024, CKay and his childhood friend Joseph Salubi, launched Boyfriend Music, a music publishing and management company, with an American subsidiary, stylized as Boyfrnd Music, with the sole aim to extend its support to artists, songwriters, and producers globally.[30] In October 2024, CKay released a 12-track sophomore album titledEMOTIONS featuringOlamide,The Cavemen (band),Ty Dolla $ign andNora Fatehi.[31][32] On 18 April 2025, CKay officially exitsWarner Music Africa, following the end of his record deal.[33] On 31 May 2025, he signed a new partnership deal withAWAL, to support the release of his upcoming project,CKay the Second.[34] On 13 June 2025, he released his debut extended playCKay the Second under Boyfriend Music Limited (as CKay Holdings LLC), under exclusive license toAWAL Recordings.[35]
IfAlté means ‘different’, then I guess so. I see everybody that is considered Alté;Lady Donli, Odunsi, and the rest of them and they are being themselves. They sing what they want to, act like they want to, take pictures like they want to, dress like they want to, and I do the same. I am myself and do the things I want to, regardless of society and external pressures. I don’t give a fuck about what anybody thinks and I make Afrobeats. I don’t know if that’s Alté, but that’s me. That’s CKay.
CKay has personally dubbed his sound "Emo-afrobeats", to note his focus on emotional and romantic lyricism in his music. CKay has made tracks in a variety genres includingAfrobeats,R&B anddancehall.[37] On 4 June 2019, in an interview with Ayo Onikoyi ofVanguard Nigeria, he described his style of music as Afro-pop from the future (2056 A.D specifically).[38] On 24 September 2021, theOCC writer Helen Ainsley, describes CKay's music as fusing Afrobeats with pop, electronic music, and even interpolating classical music.[39] On 29 October 2021, Nelson C.J. ofTeen Vogue, listed CKay among other Nigerian artists confused to beAlté singers.[40]
Studio albums
EPs
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Nominated work | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Top Naija Music Awards | Best Song Cover | "Bad Musician Bad Producer" by Kelly Joe | Nominated |
| 2018 | City People Music Award | Best New Act of the Year | Himself[41] | Nominated |
| 2020 | City People Music Award | Best Collabo of the Year | Love Nwantiti"(with.Joeboy, &Kuami Eugene)"[42] | Nominated |
| 2021 | All Africa Music Awards | Most Promising African Artist | Himself "Felony"[43] | Nominated |
| Mobo Awards | Best African Music Act | Himself[44] | Nominated | |
| Muzikol Music Awards | Biggest African Music Exporter | Himself[45] | Nominated | |
| Best African Song | "Love Nwantiti"[46] | Won | ||
| 2022 | Brit Awards | Best International Song | "Love Nwantiti" | Nominated |
| Songwriters & Publishers of the Most-Performed Songs of the Year | Himself for "Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) [Remix]"[47][48] | Honour | ||
| The Future Awards Africa | Prize for Music (Endowed by Infinix) | Himself | Nominated | |
| The Headies | Best Collaboration | "Beggie Beggie"(with.Ayra Starr) | Nominated | |
| Digital Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated | ||
| Global Music Awards Africa[49][50] | Afrobeat Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |
| Afrobeat Song of the Year | "Love Nwantiti" | Nominated | ||
| Songwriter of the Year | CKay andElGrande Toto | Nominated | ||
| Popular Song of the Year | "Love Nwantiti" | Nominated | ||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Afrobeats Artist | Himself | Nominated | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated | |
| NRJ Music Awards | Social Hit of the Year | Himself | Nominated | |
| 2023 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Afrobeats Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| The Headies | Best R&B Single | "mmadu" | Nominated | |
| 29th South African Music Awards | Rest Of Africa Artist | Himself forSad Romance | Pending |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
