In an extraordinary milestone for Nigerian music and African artists more broadly, singer-songwriter Ckay’s viral track “Love Nwantiti” has earned the title of the most Shazamed song in the world, signaling its unmatched resonance with global audiences. The recognition, announced by Shazam in 2021 and cemented throughout 2022, positions the soulful Afrobeats love ballad as a cultural phenomenon that transcended borders, languages, and musical categories.
Originally released in 2019, the song didn’t initially dominate the mainstream, but its journey exemplifies the unpredictable power of social media virality and organic global discovery. From TikTok dance trends to widespread YouTube fan-made edits, Love Nwantiti steadily grew into a global hit. With its emotive melody, heartfelt lyrics, and universal appeal, it became a tune millions around the world turned to Shazam to identify, especially as it exploded across digital platforms.
The Rise of a Global Sound
While Love Nwantiti began as a local favorite within Nigeria’s thriving Afrobeats scene, its crossover into the global consciousness marks a watershed moment for African music. As listeners in Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America encountered the song in videos, reels, and playlists, their curiosity led them to Shazam—the Apple-owned app used to identify songs from brief audio snippets. It wasn’t long before the app’s data showed Love Nwantiti had been searched more than any other song in the world.
This meteoric success wasn’t a fluke. The song’s journey mirrors that of many slow-burning global hits, gaining ground not through heavy marketing but via peer-to-peer sharing, user-generated content, and genuine audience connection. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts gave it endless exposure as fans from Turkey to India to Brazil danced, lip-synced, and reimagined the track in various creative ways.
From Lagos to the World: Ckay’s Artistic Breakthrough
Born Chukwuka Ekweani, Ckay is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer who infused Love Nwantiti with personal emotion and melodic sincerity. The song’s simple yet hypnotic hook, combined with the singer’s gentle falsetto and rich instrumental production, made it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin lyrics.
Ckay’s rise to international prominence reflects the growing appetite for diverse voices and sounds in the global music market. With an increasing number of African artists gaining recognition beyond the continent, Love Nwantiti stands as a shining example of the cultural export power of Afrobeats. What sets Ckay apart is his genre-blending style, which he describes as “Emo-Afrobeats,” combining the emotional depth of R&B with the rhythmic allure of African pop.
Multiple Versions, One Hit
Another unique aspect of the song’s global domination was the deliberate release of multiple international remixes. To connect with specific regions and languages, Ckay collaborated with a range of artists, including Joeboy and Kuami Eugene (for the original remix), ElGrandeToto (Moroccan version), Franglish (French version), and De La Ghetto (Latin version).
These adaptations allowed the song to take on various regional flavors while retaining its core emotional identity. For instance, the North African remix, which features Arabic verses, became a massive hit in the Middle East and Maghreb region. Similarly, the French remix resonated across Francophone Europe and West Africa, while Latin American listeners embraced the Spanish version with enthusiasm.
The strategic localization of the song through remixes not only broadened its market but also fostered a deeper cultural appreciation. It became more than a hit; it became a multilingual, multicultural love anthem.
Shazam Recognition and Global Metrics
When Shazam announced Love Nwantiti as the most Shazamed song of 2021, the app reported over 15 million Shazams globally, with the number continuing to rise in early 2022. The app’s ranking, often seen as a leading indicator of musical curiosity and discovery, highlighted just how much interest the song generated.
The recognition also led to increased streaming numbers across all platforms. On Spotify alone, the song surpassed 700 million streams, while its combined views across YouTube versions went well beyond 1.5 billion. These statistics made Ckay one of the most streamed African artists globally during the period.
Billboard charts echoed this success. Love Nwantiti charted in over 30 countries, including peaking in the UK Singles Chart and appearing on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Hot 100—significant achievements for any African artist.
Afrobeats Takes Center Stage
The global rise of Love Nwantiti is a testament to the larger wave of Afrobeats taking center stage in international music. Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tems, and Rema have all played vital roles in opening the doors for African sounds to be featured at the Grammy Awards, global festivals, and major record labels.
Ckay’s success with Love Nwantiti adds another compelling chapter to this story. It illustrates the reach of African pop music beyond diaspora communities and underscores its ability to compete on equal footing with Western pop, Latin reggaeton, and K-pop. It also emphasizes the importance of digital platforms in democratizing music access and breaking down traditional industry gatekeeping.
Impact on Ckay’s Career and African Music Industry
The breakout success of Love Nwantiti redefined Ckay’s career trajectory. From being a promising Nigerian talent under Chocolate City and later Warner Music South Africa, he became a globally recognized artist with charting singles, sold-out international shows, and brand endorsements.
Furthermore, the success boosted visibility for Nigeria’s music industry as a whole. More record labels, media outlets, and streaming services began paying closer attention to emerging African talents. It also sparked conversations about infrastructure, royalties, and global licensing for African music—important considerations for the sustainable growth of the continent’s creative economy.
A Moment for African Storytelling
Love Nwantiti is not just a love song—it is a reminder that African storytelling, when presented authentically, can touch hearts across continents. The song’s popularity proves that language is no barrier to emotional connection. Whether listeners understood the lyrics or not, they connected with the warmth, vulnerability, and rhythm of the piece.
Its journey from a relatively modest release to the most Shazamed song in the world captures the essence of how music travels in the digital age—beyond borders, via genuine emotion, and fueled by human connection.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Ckay?
Following the success of Love Nwantiti, Ckay has continued to build on his international momentum. He released more singles and an EP, including tracks like “Emiliana” and “You”, which also enjoyed commercial success. Fans and industry observers alike anticipate a full-length album that may further elevate his position in the global music arena.
As Afrobeats continues to dominate airwaves and streaming charts worldwide, artists like Ckay symbolize the genre’s fusion of rhythm, emotion, and cross-cultural appeal. His achievement with Love Nwantiti is more than a personal victory—it’s a milestone for African music on the world stage.
