Ghana: How CEEK VR is revolutionising African entertainment

Founded in 2016, the platform is aimed at revolutionising the space by creating immersive experiences that bring fans closer to their favourite stars, while fostering a sense of community and shared experiences.

For KJ Spio, the company’s creative director and co-manager of Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, CEEK is Africa’s answer to Netflix with a real focus on showcasing African talent. One of CEEK’s standout features is its ability to create custom virtual venues for each event; be it a small acoustic set or a larger show, the company claims to have created a virtual space that perfectly suits any event. It also offers a range of customisation options for performers, allowing them to create unique and memorable experiences for their fans.

Spio says the COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for exclusive content, leading to a significant rise in CEEK’s viewership. Despite restrictions on production, the platform continued to enjoy massive reception.

A defining moment arrived for the portal in 2020 with Sarkodie’s Black Love virtual concert, which brought together various artists. Due to overwhelming demand for the online gig, that platform ended up crashing: A few minutes before the start of the programme, the company announced on Twitter that it was encountering server challenges due to overwhelming traffic. It reported that 1.5 million users were trying to access the website all at once and eventually it resorted to using Facebook for the stream.

Nonetheless, Spio remembers the event more positively. “As far as the content itself from the creative staff point, it was very significant, you know, bringing all these together and showcasing Ghana at its finest. What I enjoyed most was about bringing all the artists together, bringing people together,” he said.

CEEK has become increasingly popular in Ghana, and the platform is working to expand its reach across the country. Spio says his outfit is “working with telcos in Ghana to make sure that people can access it very quickly and very easily.”

He also notes that apart from Ghana, East Africa has been hugely receptive, disclosing that the company has curated events for a few Tanzanian acts, most notably Diamond Platnumz.

On its foray into the metaverse, which forms part of CEEK’s efforts to explore new ways to create engaging content, Spio says that his company is always looking to create innovative spaces that elevate the viewing experience for its users. By transporting them to imaginative and virtual settings, the platform offers a unique and exciting opportunity to interact with music and entertainment in a whole new way.

“We want to push our culture and we want to make sure that the world knows what we have to offer. The platform is constantly evolving and improving, and its unique approach to virtual events is set to make waves in the entertainment industry,” Spio says.