How being snubbed by award organisers affected me — Kcee

Singer Kingsley Okonkwo, known as Kcee, has opened up about how being ignored by award organisers once affected him and how he moved past it.

Speaking on an episode of the Echo Room podcast, the Limpopo crooner shared that missing out on nominations had a strong emotional impact on him at the time. 

According to him, the lack of recognition led to moments of frustration and even tears.

Kcee explained that his experience reflects what many artists face in the industry, when recognition does not match fan support, and why external validation can feel important early in a career. 

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“Initially, the music industry wasn’t giving me recognition. The fans were the ones supporting me. I wasn’t being nominated for awards. I cried. I was pained.

“But eventually, I grew a thick skin not to worry about awards. Right now, whether I win or they don’t nominate me, I don’t care.”

He added that over time, he shifted focus to how he connects with his audience rather than industry validation. For him, the consistent support from fans has proven more valuable than awards, shaping where he places his priorities and who he considers most important in his journey.