CKay and Olamide Head to Tropical Paradise in the Video For “Wahala”
“With the ‘Wahala’ music video, I aimed to celebrate the beauty of African women,” says CKay.
CKay’s “Wahala,” his latest record, gets the visual treatment just about a month after its initial release. Featuring the veteran rap artist Olamide, the song swirls with the sensual Latin influences CKay has been honing since his BoyfriendEP.
The just-released music video for “Wahala” draws from the romantic expressiveness of that sound. It’s directed by Ahmed Mosh, who’s previously worked with the artist on the visuals of “Emiliana” and “Nwanyi” among others. This familiarity with the musician creates an indelible set of montages, colorful and intense, casting CKay and Olamide in situations propelled by them as much as the models and cinematic setting they share space with.
A tropical mood is created by the orange-tinted choice of lighting, notably featuring the sunset. With the guitar-led production evoking the motion of water, this visual backdrop balances the scale of emotion on display, while the choreography introduces movement. It’s a summery composition, in sound and sensibilities, and both Ahmed and CKay were intentional tapping into this feel.
“With the ‘Wahala’ music video, I aimed to celebrate the beauty of African women,” says CKay in a press statement. “My music always aims to evoke a certain feeling, and I wanted the visuals to create an environment where the music could truly flourish.”
CKay’s third single of the year, “Wahala” comes on the back of numerous chart successes the artist has enjoyed since his international breakthrough came on “Love Nwantiti.” In 2023, he released a deluxe version of his debut album Sad Romance, adding three new tracks to the project. Late last year, he surpassed one billion solo Spotify streams, marking his latest achievement in his striking repertoire as an artist.
Watch the video for “Wahala” below: