Nigerian singer Chukwuka Ekweani, a.k.a. CKay, captivated the audience at the Vh1 Supersonic Mainstage with his chart-topping hits in Bengaluru recently. The Emo-Afrobeat artist gained worldwide recognition with his viral TikTok hit single, ‘Love Nwantiti’, which marked a pivotal moment for African pop music, a genre that has influenced many renowned musicians but has not attained global commercial success until now.
The song holds the distinction of being the first from the African continent to secure the top spot on YouTube’s most-watched music videos list, and its success has helped put African music on the international stage.
In a recent interview with The Hindu, CKay spoke about the inspiration behind the song and his Nigerian heritage. “I feel the song’s popularity in India is a huge part of that success,” he said. “The song was number one in India for a few months and that was exciting because I don’t even speak Hindi or any other Indian language. So, I truly appreciate the love from everyone here.”
CKay’s Nigerian heritage has also played a significant role in his music. “The language I make songs in is my native language, Igbo, primarily spoken in southeastern Nigeria,” he explained. “I also use Pidgin English, which is a form of English that is spoken in my country. The things I encounter daily in Nigeria and the challenges I confront serve as the inspiration for my music.”
The 27-year-old musician said different genres and artistes have shaped his music. “Michael Jackson had a significant impact on my music, while Lionel Richie and the Backstreet Boys were among the first artistes who inspired me as a young musician.”
When asked about African music, CKay noted that music from every other continent has had a presence, and Africa should not be an exception. “African music is amazing, I would hate for the world to not be a part of this,” he said. “That’s my desire — for the world to revel in the goodness of African music. This music deserves to be everywhere, and it is happening already. I am excited about what will happen after this.”
As an artiste who has worked with several other musicians, including Joeboy and Davido, CKay aspires for dream collaborations with his favourite artistes. “Billie Eilish is on that list, as are Drake and Kanye West.”
CKay performing at the Vh1 Supersonic Mainstage in Bengaluru on Friday, February 24.
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On being asked about his favourite Indian song, he quickly responded with “’Kuchi Kuchi Kota Hai’ with Shah Rukh Khan,” before being corrected that the actual song is ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’.
Despite the minor slip-up, his passion for Bollywood movies was clear. “It’s crazy…in Nigeria, you wouldn’t believe the way women enjoy watching Bollywood movies,” he exclaimed. “They don’t understand the language, but they still watch it.” He praised the culture and storytelling in Indian films, which he believes connects with audiences back home.
As for Indian cuisine, CKay had just arrived in India and tried his first dish — chicken tikka masala at his hotel. “It was cool,” he remarked with a grin.
Talking about upcoming projects, the musician revealed he has been working tirelessly on his deluxe album, which he described as “really, really amazing.” With a plethora of interesting records and collaborations, CKay’s debut album, Sad Romance, is also ready for release. “I really can’t wait to release the deluxe and I wish I could release it right now, but I have to wait for the right time.”
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