CKay
Musician
Biography
Chukwuka Ekweani, known professionally as CKay, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer who has taken the world by storm with his unique blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and pop music.
Born on July 16, 1995, in Kaduna, Nigeria, CKay developed a love for music at a young age thanks to his father, who was a choir conductor and keyboard player at their local church. CKay taught himself how to play various instruments and started making music using Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) software.
He began his career as part of a three-person band before launching his solo career. CKay rose to international fame with his hit song "Love Nwantiti" (also known as "Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)"), which became a global phenomenon after going viral on TikTok in 2021. The song broke records as the first African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify and earned him a spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Known for his smooth vocals and catchy melodies, CKay has become one of the most successful African artists of his generation, collaborating with international stars and earning numerous awards for his contributions to music.
Early Life
CKay was born as Chukwuka Ekweani on July 16, 1995, in Kaduna, Nigeria. He comes from an Igbo family originally from Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria, but his family was based in Kaduna.
His father was a choir conductor and keyboard player at their local church, which greatly influenced CKays love for music from a young age. Growing up, CKay was fascinated by musical instruments and started learning to play the piano from his father. He has three siblings - two sisters and one brother. CKay was raised in a Christian household and attended Zamani College in Kaduna State for his secondary education.
As a teenager, he developed a strong passion for music production and taught himself how to use music software like Fruity Loops. This early exposure to music and technology laid the foundation for his future career as a musician and producer.
Career
CKays music career began in 2014 when he was discovered and signed to Loopy Music, which prompted him to relocate to Lagos. In 2015, he became an intern at the Nigerian record label Chocolate City, and in 2016, he was officially signed as an artist after Loopy Music merged with Chocolate City. His debut EP, "Who the F*ck Is CKay?", was released in 2017. In 2018, CKay released Container, an Afrobeat record influenced by the South African gwara gwara dance style, which became a breakthrough hit in Nigeria. His big break came in 2019 with the release of his second EP, CKay The First, which featured the hit song Love Nwantiti. Originally released in 2019, Love Nwantiti gained massive international attention in 2021 after going viral on TikTok.
The song became a global hit, charting across Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart and number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. CKay has since released several successful projects including his 2021 EP Boyfriend and his 2022 single Emiliana, which also went viral on TikTok. He has collaborated with major artists like Davido, Joeboy, and Ayra Starr. In 2021, CKay became the first African artist to surpass 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
He is currently signed to Boyfriend Music, Warner Music Africa, and Atlantic Records. CKay's music is known for its catchy melodies, smooth vocals, and unique blend of Afrobeats with R&B and pop influences.
Personal Life
CKay comes from a close-knit family. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Daisy Ekweani, both from Anambra State but based in Kaduna. His father was a choir conductor and keyboard player, while his mother is Daisy Ekweani. CKay has three siblings - two sisters and one brother. He was raised in a Christian household and maintains strong family ties. In terms of relationships, CKay was previously linked to DJ Mona Sed, with reports of an engagement in May 2025, though this information may not be current. CKay is known to be private about his personal life and focuses primarily on his music career. He has spoken about the challenges he faced when he decided to pursue music against his family's initial wishes, but he has since achieved great success and made his family proud. CKay is also known for his philanthropic efforts and often uses his platform to support various causes in Nigeria and across Africa.
Fun Facts
CKays real name is Chukwuka Ekweani
He taught himself how to use Fruity Loops (FL Studio) music production software
He comes from a family of four children - he has two sisters and one brother
His father was a choir conductor and keyboard player at their local church
CKay became the first African artist to surpass 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify
Love Nwantiti became the first African song to surpass one billion streams on Spotify
He is signed to three record labels: Boyfriend Music, Warner Music Africa, and Atlantic Records
CKays stage name CKay comes from his real name Chukwuka
He plays multiple instruments including piano, drums, and guitar
CKay is of Igbo ethnicity from Anambra State in Nigeria
He moved to Lagos in 2014 to pursue his music career
His hit song Love Nwantiti has been remixed in multiple languages including French, Spanish, and German
CKay won a Silver Creator Award from YouTube in 2021 for reaching 100k subscribers
He has collaborated with international artists like Davido, Joeboy, and Kuami Eugene
CKays music genre blends Afrobeats, pop, and alté
He is known for his smooth vocals and catchy melodies
CKays net worth is estimated to be around $2 million
He has partnered with global brands like Chanel and Ralph Lauren Fragrances
His song Emiliana also went viral on TikTok in 2022
CKay is a Christian and has spoken about his faith in interviews
He is tall and weighs about 136 pounds