Nigerian singer Chukwuka Ekweani, professionally known as CKay, has opened up about the personal sacrifices he made to pursue his music career. In a recent livestream on Twitch with streamer Caterefe, the “Love Nwantiti” hitmaker revealed that his parents did not approve of his decision to pursue music, prompting him to leave home at the age of 19.
CKay explained that he absconded from his family home in Kaduna to Lagos, Nigeria’s entertainment hub, to chase his passion for music. “My parents didn’t want me to do music, so I ran away from home in Kaduna when I was 19,” he said. Upon arriving in Lagos, he wrote a long letter to his mother and sent it via BlackBerry, marking the beginning of his independent journey.
Initially, CKay stayed with a friend before securing a one-room apartment. To support himself, he worked as a music producer across four different studios, earning money while honing his craft. His dedication to music led him to make another significant sacrifice—dropping out of university at just 100 level to focus entirely on his career.
CKay’s perseverance paid off when he gained prominence in 2018 with the release of his breakthrough song, “Container.” However, it was his 2019 single, “Love Nwantiti,” that catapulted him to global stardom. The track became a cultural phenomenon, breaking numerous African records and achieving over a billion streams on Spotify for its original version.
CKay’s journey from a young man defying his parents’ wishes to an internationally recognized artist underscores the challenges and determination often required to succeed in the music industry. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring musicians, highlighting the importance of passion, resilience, and the willingness to take risks in pursuit of one’s dreams.
