By: Peace udugba -The daily torch media
LONDON – CNN EMEA, 160 Old Street, EC1V 9BW, CNN’s African Voices will feature Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, Ckay, in its latest episode airing on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 08:30 WAT on CNN International.
In this special segment, host Larry Madowo visits Ckay at his home studio—where some of his global hits were produced—to explore the journey behind his music and meteoric rise in the Afrobeats scene.
Ckay reflects on the success of his breakout single “Love Nwantiti” which has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, saying:
“I would say it’s definitely made its mark in the history books of Afrobeats, and I’m really proud to be part of this culture.”
He reveals that the song was born out of real emotion:
“I was in between relationships when I wrote that song. I was just making a beat, freestyling, vibing straight from the heart. I don’t always write songs with a pen—sometimes it flows directly from how I feel.”
With other hits like “Emiliana”and Felony”, Ckay also spoke about his growth:
“As a person, I’ve grown in love each time I make a song. If you listen to the lyrics, you can tell.”
Ckay also touched on the evolution of his music and personal growth, stating:
“If you listen to the lyrics and what I’m saying, you can tell that I’ve grown in love. I’m a lot more mature now, and my music has grown with me as well.”
Reflecting on his early rise through TikTok, Ckay acknowledged how social media helped launch his global recognition:
“There was a time when people laughed at me for making TikToks for my songs. Back then, it wasn’t cool. But now, everyone sees the impact—everyone is making TikToks.”
Ckay’s sound, which he describes as “Emo Afrobeats,” stems from his emotional nature and cultural identity.
“Being a Cancer, we’re known to be emotional and deeply in touch with our feelings. That essence naturally pours into my music. Afrobeats is my cultural heritage, but I wanted to bring a different, more vulnerable perspective to the sound.”
He also challenged the broad use of the term Afrobeats to define all African music.
“Africa has over 50 countries and countless cultures. Nigeria alone has over 36 ethnic groups, each with its own rhythms, instruments, and styles. Not all African music is the same.”
[10/01, 16:30] Chat Gpt: Through African Voices, CNN offers a deeper look into Ckay’s artistry, showing how he’s using emotion, innovation, and heritage to shape the future of Afrobeats.
“Coming to a whole continent and just calling everything Afrobeats, it’s not the most apt—but it’s a start. Hopefully, it helps them begin to understand African music’s diversity.”
Reflecting on his rise through social media, he added:
“People laughed when I made TikToks for my songs. Now everyone’s doing it. Social media changed the game.”
As the conversation wrapped, Ckay shared his vision for the future:
“When all is said and done, I want my legacy to be that I innovated the sound, advanced the culture, and made the world a better place than I met it.”
Ckay’s full interview airs on CNN International on the following dates (WAT):
– *Saturday, January 10:08:30 & 12:00
– Sunday, January 11: 04:30 & 19:00
– Monday, January 12: 04:00 & 18:45
– Tuesday, January 13: 18:45
– Saturday, January 17: 08:30 & 12:00
– Sunday, January 18: 04:30 & 19:00
– Monday, January 19: 04:00
For more, visit CNN African Voices or tune in via CNN International across over 200 countries and territories.
Ckay Shares His Journey and Legacy Vision on CNN’s African Voices
In the latest episode of African Voices CNN’s Larry Madowo sits down with Nigerian music star Ckay, the singer, songwriter, and producer behind the global hit Love Nwantiti, to explore his artistic evolution, emotional depth, and cultural influence.
Ckay invites Madowo into his Lagos home studio—where many of his chart-topping hits were born—and speaks candidly about the inspiration behind Love Nwantiti, a track with over one billion streams on Spotify
“I was in between relationships at the time I wrote that song. I was making a beat and just freestyled from the heart,” he said. “It wasn’t planned—just raw emotions.”
Ckay is known for pioneering the “Emo Afrobeats”sound, blending Afrobeat rhythms with personal vulnerability.
“Being a Cancer, we’re emotional. My essence comes through naturally in my music,” he explained. “Afrobeats is my heritage, but I wanted to bring a new perspective to it.”
He also addressed the growing Western interest in African music, cautioning against oversimplification:
