Warner Music Africa’s Managing Director, Temi Adeniji, has shared how CKay’s global hit “Love Nwantiti” transformed from a regional hit into a worldwide Afrobeats anthem. Speaking at the Afrobeats Martell session, Adeniji revealed the pivotal moves that ignited the song’s viral rise just months after she assumed her role in April 2021.
While in the U.S., Adeniji received a message about the track’s sudden momentum. Recognizing its viral potential, she immediately explored unconventional strategies. She pitched it for radio play—a rare move for a song of its genre—and the decision sparked immediate global traction.
Tracking its success in India, she reached out to Warner’s Managing Director in the region. “I said, ‘This is taking off in India; let’s push it harder there,’ and we did,” she recounted. The song eventually held the number one spot in India for 16 consecutive weeks.
“Love Nwantiti” went on to achieve historic milestones. It was certified 8× Platinum in the U.S. in March 2024, making it the most-certified Nigerian song in U.S. history. It also peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first African song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
The track also dominated Shazam’s global chart in 2021, held the No. 1 spot for weeks, and went viral on TikTok, sparking remixes across multiple continents.
CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” also stands as a landmark in Afrobeats history, thanks to a combination of strategic insight, perfect timing, and digital momentum.
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