Emerging Afro-pop artist Ceenez is not just making music, he’s telling stories from the heart.
At just 20 years old, he wrote his breakout single “Sunmomi”, a song that would go on to introduce his signature sound: a blend of Afro-Romance and Afro-Soul, rich with emotion, melody, and vulnerability.
But what many fans may not know is that Sunmomi wasn’t just another love song, it was personal.
“I actually wrote Sunmomi at a time in life when I was in love with my classmate in school,” Ceenez reveals.
The track, produced by long-time collaborator Toblez, dropped on January 18, 2025, and instantly stood out. Translating to “draw closer to me” in Yoruba, Sunmomi pairs smooth vocals with a nostalgic beat and raw storytelling, the kind that sticks with you long after the song ends.
It’s the kind of track that makes you remember what young love felt like, what it meant to want someone deeply, and how music can immortalize a feeling.
Long before Sunmomi found its way onto playlists, Ceenez had been quietly honing his craft.
“I started writing songs at age 14,” he shares, noting that he’d created several Afro-pop records before Sunmomi, though none were officially released.
“I was actually doing rap songs before I switched up to singing,” he says.
The switch wasn’t just about sound, it was about purpose. Ceenez found his true voice not in bars and punchlines, but in melody and meaning. That voice eventually led him to define his genre not just as Afro-pop, but something more specific, Afro-Romance and Afro-Soul.
“If someone never heard my music, I’d like them to start with Sunmomi,” he says. “That defines the kind of music I’m really passionate about making.”
What separates Ceenez from many of his peers is how emotionally grounded his sound is. Sunmomi isn’t performative, it’s reflective. The lyrics speak directly to the heart without sounding forced or formulaic. It’s the kind of music that hits hardest when you’re in your feels, when you’re alone, or maybe thinking about the one that got away.
“Love! I like,” he says, in a way that makes you believe it’s not just a theme, it’s his muse.
His follow-up single “On My Own” (released May 11, 2025) further confirms that Ceenez is not here to chase hype; he’s here to connect.
Where Sunmomi was about desire, On My Own is about disappointment and self-growth.
“After listening to On My Own, I need people to understand the fact ‘Always keep your expectations low, even when you deserve better’ and ‘You can always be great on your own,’” Ceenez says.
Despite his talent and vision, Ceenez is all too aware of the uphill battle that comes with being an emerging artist in Nigeria.
“Some see upcoming artists as lost souls… they label them ‘rudderless,’” he says.
But Ceenez is far from lost. In fact, he’s more focused than ever.
“I want Ceenez to be the next Face of Africa,” he declares with quiet confidence.
His fanbase, proudly called the Ceezers is growing steadily across platforms like Audiomack, YouTube, and even Twitch. He’s building not just a sound, but a world his listeners can belong to. And at the center of it all? A boy who fell in love with music.