Kaey

Kaey is a Nigerian singer and songwriter whose real name is Success Okekeninyohe Ijeh. Born in Ibadan, growing up in Lagos, and then moving to Johannesburg before returning to Nigeria around 2014, Kaey has amassed a breadth of experiences that underline the intentionality in her music. Kaey is a film school graduate with a passionate tilt towards the microphone. “It’s always the music for me,” she told The NATIVE earlier this month. “I’ve always known since I was young that I wanted to do music. I grew up in a music-inclined family so there were always different kinds of music coming from everywhere. My dad listened to Reggae, my mom listened to Gospel, aunties and uncles listened to Hip-Hop and Pop music. I just picked up stuff from everywhere.”


In June 2021, KAEY released her debut song, “Oath,” a song built on muted keys and speculative percussions. In turn, KAEY’s lyrics probe the innermost confusions of someone who is not able to love with the honesty and vulnerability she craves. “What’s the point of chasing, what’s the point of chasing if all you do is hide?” she sings in the first verse before segueing into the emotive chorus. “Oath, tie you to me/You’re not helping me, my fantasy,” she croons, implying a supernatural resolution to her heart’s conflict.