AB Majlis podcast: CKay opens up about ‘Love Nwantiti’ fame, Dubai and Afrobeats

Nigerian star CKay, the artist behind the viral song ‘Love Nwantiti’ and with over five billion global streams has opened up about the global success that reshaped his life, revealing personal details about the emotion behind his viral music, why he thinks Afrobeats is taking the global stage and the evolution driving his new sound.

In the latest episode of AB Majlis during a visit to Dubai, the artist spoke candidly about the hit that made him one of Africa’s most-streamed musicians and how he is reinventing himself after the song’s extraordinary global run.

The track became one of the most viral records of the streaming era, dominating TikTok, topping charts worldwide and turning CKay into an international sensation almost overnight. But the singer said the song’s origins were far more intimate than people realise.

“Love Nwantiti was never written for a global audience,” he said. “I was singing about a private experience. The world just happened to tune in like they were eavesdropping.”

CKay revealed that the emotional depth of his earlier music came from a period defined by a relationship that ended, a turning point that helped shape what he calls “emo Afrobeats.”

“I used to make really sad music,” he said. “That relationship had a deep effect on me.”
But as his life shifted, so did the mood of his sound. Today, he says he is in a different phase.

Despite the seismic success of Love Nwantiti, CKay said he has never felt pressure to duplicate it dismissing the idea that artists must chase their biggest hit.

“Zero pressure,” he said. “People tried to create artificial pressure around me, but I realised it was all an illusion. As long as I’m true to myself, everything will be fine.”

He also rejected the notion that Afrobeats’ global rise is the result of strategy. “Nigerian music is a vibe,” he said. “You hear it, you feel it, you dance. That’s the whole explanation.”

CKay’s latest single Body (Danz), already No. 1 in Nigeria marks a shift to a more upbeat, rock-infused sound. He described his mind as “a thunderstorm of ideas” and said the song emerged from an urge to fuse rock guitars with Afrobeats drums.

“Music has to make sense, not just feature a big name.”

CKay was in Dubai to perform and shoot content but said what moved him most was Sharjah’s desert landscape, which he described as “authentic” and emotionally resonant. He hinted that future visuals could be filmed there.

“When I went to Sharjah, I felt something I never felt with tall buildings,” he said. “Whatever that vibe is – I love it.”

He added that he is open to Middle Eastern collaborations, but only if the artistic connection is real. “I don’t pick the hottest name on the chart. I work with people I vibe with.”

When what he wants his legacy to be, CKay said, “My mission from the beginning was to innovate,” he said. “If I’m making music that sounds like what already exists, there’s no point. I want it to be clear what I contributed and I want the next generation to build on it.”

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