Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter, Kingsley ‘Kcee’ Okonkwo, has revealed that being repeatedly overlooked by award organisers once moved him to tears.
The Afrobeats artiste, who was formerly part of the duo KC Presh, spoke about the emotional strain of not receiving recognition despite his efforts in the industry. He explained that the experience eventually led him to stop placing value on awards.
“I grew up in an industry that wasn’t fair to me. There wasn’t any attention given to me at any moment. I was doing a lot that the industry wasn’t recognising.
“The fans were the ones who were behind me. I did a lot of work; they were not nominating me for awards. And I cried; I was pained,” the singer said on Afrobeats Intelligence podcast.
The 47-year-old noted that over time, he chose to detach himself from seeking validation through awards after noticing a recurring pattern of exclusion.
“Right now, when I win awards, or you don’t nominate me, I don’t care. I prefer the rewards to the awards. So, when ‘Limpopo’ came, oh, I was in tears.
“I was like, no, God has answered my prayer. He took me to the global market straight. After all the years I’ve worked with Presh, that’s like the biggest record I’ve ever done,” he added.
Kcee began his music journey in 1999 in his local church before rising to fame after KC Presh won the maiden edition of the Star Quest music competition in 2002.
Reflecting on his recent success, he highlighted the viral reach of his 2024 hit “Ojapiano,” which he said gained massive traction on TikTok.
“I dropped ‘Ojapiano’ like today, the next day, it was doing 120,000 videos on TikTok in one day. And it happened for seven days non-stop. That’s organic. The white people were vibing to it,” he said.
Known for his versatility, Kcee has released several hit songs over the years, including “Okpekete,” “Tender,” “Ojaginger,” and “Big Fish,” alongside culturally inspired tracks like “Cultural Praise” and “Cultural Vibes.”
His 2025 album, Okonkwo and Sons Unlimited, blends traditional highlife with modern Afrobeats and features collaborations with artistes such as Wyclef Jean, Teni, and Umu Obiligbo.