CKay Opens Up on Sacrificing Family Approval for Music Career

Nigerian singer CKay has opened up about the difficult choice that shaped his music career.

Speaking during a Twitch livestream with Carter Efe, the artiste shared how he left home at just 19 after his parents rejected his decision to pursue music.

CKay said he ran away from Kaduna to Lagos, determined to follow his passion despite the uncertainty. After arriving, he sent a long message to his mother explaining his decision.

Life in Lagos was not easy at first. He stayed with a friend before later getting a small one room apartment. To survive, he worked as a producer in several studios, building his craft behind the scenes.

At the time, he also made another major sacrifice by leaving university in his first year to focus fully on music.

His persistence paid off in 2018 when his breakout song “Container” pushed him into the spotlight.

My parents did not 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

CKay’s journey shows how far belief and sacrifice can take an artiste chasing a dream.