Nigerian singer CKay has opened up about the difficult decisions he made early in his career, revealing how he defied his parents to pursue music.
The artist, whose real name is Chukwuka Ekweani, shared his story during a Twitch livestream with comedian and content creator Carter Efe, where he reflected on his journey from Kaduna to Lagos in search of success.
According to CKay, his parents were strongly against his decision to go into music, a stance that pushed him to take a bold step at a young age. At just 19, he left home and relocated to Lagos, determined to chase his dreams despite the uncertainty ahead.
He said:
“My parents didn’t want me to do music so I ran away from home in Kaduna when I was 19. I came down to Lagos to chase my passion in music. When I arrived Lagos, I wrote a long letter and sent to my mum via Blackberry. Initially, I was staying with one of my friends. But after sometime, I got a one-room apartment. I was making money as a producer working with four different studios. At some point, I had to dropped out of university at just 100 level to focus on music,” he explained
CKay also revealed that his early days in Lagos were marked by hustle and persistence, as he worked behind the scenes as a producer across multiple studios to support himself.
His breakthrough eventually came in 2018 with the release of his hit track “Container,” which brought him into the spotlight and marked the beginning of his rise in the Nigerian music scene.
Today, his story stands as a testament to risk-taking and determination, highlighting the sacrifices many artists make on their path to success.