Music video directors in Nigeria are now enjoying more recognition and public attention compared to the past when they were relatively unknown behind-the-scenes figures.
The significance of music videos in Nigeria is undeniable. While fans appreciate hit songs and albums, the anticipation for the visual aspect of each song is equally high. This heightened demand for top-notch visuals has turned music video directors into sought-after professionals as artists aim to deliver the best visual experiences to their audiences.
In the past, cinematographers often played the role of music video directors without receiving the credit they deserved. However, the landscape has evolved, and now video directors are rightfully acknowledged for their crucial contributions. Their works have become so distinctive that their style is easily recognizable even without checking the video credits.
Some of the most in-demand music video directors in Nigeria are chosen based on their body of work, fame, and pricing. See them below.
1. Clarence Peters
Clarence Peters stands as a prominent figure in the music video directing industry, often credited with paving the way for the recognition of the true worth of music video directors.
Born to Nigerian Afro-Juju musician, Shina Peters and Nollywood actress, ClarionChukwuka, Clarence pursued cinematography at a film school in Cape Town, South Africa. Returning to Nigeria, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Alliance Film Company, now known as the Allied Film Company, alongside a group of filmmakers.
With over two decades of experience, Clarence Peters boasts a portfolio of directing over 50 high-quality HD music videos. Notably, he commands a significant fee for his services, reportedly charging up to 6 million Naira.
His extensive list of collaborations includes A-list artists in Nigeria such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Kizz Daniel, Davido, Wizkid, and many others.
With a consistent track record and widespread acclaim for his work, Clarence Peters remains one of the most sought-after music video directors in Nigeria.
2. TG Omori
TG Omori, also known as Boy Director, emerges as a rising star in the music video directing sector, gaining recognition as one of the top directors in the country. Born ThankGod Omori Jesam, the 28-year-old cinematographer, originally from Cross River State, grew up in Agungi, Lagos State, amidst a middle-class background.
Embarking on his journey as a video director at the young age of 15, TG Omori oversaw stage plays in his school and church. His passion for video production led him to enter the field professionally after graduating from the PEFTI Film Institute at the age of 18, making him one of Nigeria’s youngest professional filmmakers at the time.
Over the years, Omori has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry, directing numerous chart-topping videos for various Nigerian celebrities. Notable among his works are videos for hits like “Soapy” and “Am I A Yahoo Boy” by Naira Marley, “Totori” by Olamide ft Wizkid, and “Billionaire” by Teni.
Other acclaimed music videos under his belt include Asake’s “Peace Be Unto You“, Rema’s “Are You There?“, Ololade Asake’s “Sungba“, Fireboy DML’s “Playboy“, and Kizz Daniel’s “BUGA“.
Having garnered several awards, TG Omori is now one of the most sought-after music video directors in Nigeria, and it comes as no surprise that he plans to charge as much as 1 million dollars per video shoot.
3. Daps
Daps, born Oladapo Fagbenle, secures a spot among the most sought-after music video directors in Nigeria, lauded for his remarkable diversity. The Nigerian-born British director initiated his career as a video producer in New York and London before establishing himself in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Daps is renowned for directing chart-topping music videos both in Nigeria and internationally. His extensive portfolio includes collaborations with global superstars like Migos, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar, Stormzy, IggyAzalea, and Afrobeats icons such as Wizkid, Patoranking, and Davido.
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One of his notable achievements is directing the video for Migos’ “Bad and Boujee“, amassing over 67 million views on YouTube and counting. Despite his reputation for being “quite expensive and not for everybody”, Daps’s top projects include music videos for “Fall” by Davido, “Come Closer” by Wizkid featuring Drake, “Close Friends” by Lil Baby, and “Double Tap” by Jordin Sparks featuring 2 Chainz.
4. Dammy Twitch
Dammy Twitch has swiftly ascended to become one of the most sought-after music video directors in recent years. His journey began as a photographer in 2013, and in 2017, he delved into video directing while interning for DirectorQ.
Renowned for his explicit music videos, Dammy Twitch has collaborated with top artists such as Davido, Olamide, Falz, Burna Boy, Mayorkun, Peruzzi, Zlatan Ibile, Dremo, Lil Kesh, Victor AD, and more.
Among his notable projects are Davido’s “FEM“, “Jowo“, and “Stand Strong“, featuring The Samples, along with Naira Marley’s “Montego Bay video“. At the age of 28, Dammy Twitch earned a spot on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2022.
5. Moe Musa
Mohammed Musa, widely recognized as Moe Musa, stands as one of the veteran and renowned figures in Nigeria’s video-directing realm. Holding the distinction of being one of Nigeria’s premier music video directors, Moe Musa has lent his expertise to numerous projects.
A graduate in Media Technology from Thames Valley University, United Kingdom, Moe Musa has collaborated with A-list superstars across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, France, Cyprus, and America. His breakthrough came with the direction of the chart-topping 2009 Fuse O2DG song and music video “Antenna“. Additionally, he owns a production company for movies and videos known as the UK and Afrobeat Music Culture Online Video Broadcaster.
Moe Musa’s portfolio includes iconic projects like “Skelewu” by Davido, “Azonto” by Wizkid, “Wanted” by Tiwa Savage, and “Diaspora” by 2Baba. His stature as one of the most expensive music video directors in Nigeria further solidifies his position in the industry.
6. Meji Alabi
Meji Alabi stands as a prominent figure in Nigeria’s music video directing industry, renowned for his creative prowess. He has left an indelible mark with visually stunning music videos for A-list artists such as Wizkid, MaleekBerry, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Asa, Mr. Eazi, Seyi Shay, and more.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Alabi’s diverse background includes living in London and Texas. This cultural blend enhances his ability to connect African and Western markets through various visual mediums, encompassing music videos, photography, advertising campaigns, magazine editorials, and artist branding.
Among his recent notable projects are “Monsters We Made” by Burna Boy featuring Chris Martin, “49-99” by Tiwa Savage, and “Smile” by Wizkid featuring H.E.R.
Notably, Meji Alabi contributed to Beyoncé‘s “Black is King” video project, showcasing his global impact in the world of visual storytelling.
Nigerian music sensation Oxlade made a global impact with his 2022 hit single “Kulosa”. The track quickly went viral and catapulted him to international stardom. Two years after its release, “Kulosa” has officially been certified gold in the United States, having achieved 500,000 units in sales.
The track, one of the most successful performances ever on Colors Studio, enjoyed commercial success. It amassed over 400 million streams on Spotify and racked up over 187 million views across two music videos on YouTube.
“Kulosa” particularly resonated in the United States. It spent several months on the Billboard Afrobeats Chart, peaking at No. 5.
This certification marks a significant milestone for Oxlade. This is because “Kulosa” became his first song to receive an RIAA plaque. The track has also earned certifications in several countries. These countries include France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland.
“Kulosa” is one of the standout tracks from Oxlade’s debut album, “Oxlade From Africa”, which features collaborations with Nigerian music heavyweights Wande Coal and Flavour, Ugandan musician and politician Bobi Wine, Congolese star Fally Ipupa, and Jamaican artist Popcaan.
Initially, Oxlade has secured his place among RIAA-certified Nigerian artists. Additionally, this achievement aligns him with other successful Afrobeats musicians. Meanwhile, CKay’s “Love Nwantiti” continues to dominate with its impressive 7X platinum status.
Furthermore, this hit single steadily advances toward becoming Afrobeats’ first Diamond-certified track. Consequently, Oxlade’s certification contributes to the growing global recognition of Nigerian music.
Finally, his success reinforces the significant impact Afrobeats artists are making in the international music industry.
The World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) welcomes Wizkid as a headliner. The Dominica Festivals Committee revealed their full lineup on social media. They blend local, regional, and international artists. The festival showcases multiple genres. These include Bouyon, Cadence, Reggae, Dancehall, Zouk, Kompa, Soca, and Afrobeats.
For its 24th edition, organizers announce nightly lineups. The festival kicks off on Friday, October 25. Dominica’s Extasy Band and TK International open the show. T-Vice joins the lineup that night. Soca star Nadia Batson takes the stage too. Jamaica’s Valiant and Nigeria’s Rotimi round out Friday’s performances.
Saturday packs even more star power. Caribbean Music Award winners Asa Bantan and Mr. Ridge perform alongside Pudaz. Legendary band Kassav steps up next. Damien & Stephen Marley bring reggae royalty to the stage. Grammy winner Wizkid headlines Saturday night. Umpa & Subance add Dennery Segment flavour to the mix.
The festival closes strong on Sunday, October 27. Haiti’s Kai starts the final night. Dominica’s own Signal Band and Midnight Groovers represent their homeland. Skinny Fabulous, Caribbean Music Awards’ Male Soca Artist of the Year, brings his energy from St. Vincent.
More artists join Sunday’s finale. Trinidad’s Voice performs his hits. Antigua’s Tian Winter takes the stage. Gramps Morgan & Friends delivers more reggae vibes. Jamaica’s Luciano and Dwayne Stephenson keep the music flowing. French Guiana’s Fanny J helps close out the festival.
The World Creole Music Festival creates a vibrant celebration of music. It unites artists from across the Caribbean and beyond. Fans can expect three days of non-stop musical excellence.
Ayra Starr burst onto the music scene in 2019 with her debut EP. She has quickly risen to become a Nigerian music powerhouse. The Grammy nominee just achieved a massive milestone. She has now surpassed 2 billion Spotify streams as of October 10, 2024.
Her recent album “The Year I Turned 21” fuels this success. The album alone has generated over 500 million Spotify streams. Two of her songs have broken the 400 million stream mark. “Santa,” a collaboration with Rvssian, leads with 455 million streams. Her own hit “Rush” follows closely at 409 million streams.
She is featured in Libianca’s “People” alongside Omah Lay. This track has reached 106 million streams. Her song “Bloody Samaritan” adds another 82 million to her total.
Ayra joins an elite group of Nigerian streaming giants, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, CKay, Tems, and Davido. Each has crossed the 2 billion Spotify streams threshold.
2024 keeps getting better for the 22-year-old star. The MTV EMAs have nominated her in four categories. She competes for Best New Artist, Best African Act, Best Afrobeats Act, and Best Push.
Ayra hasn’t stopped there. She hints at releasing a deluxe version of her sophomore album. The original version already enjoys strong commercial success. She continues to push boundaries and expand her musical reach.
This rising star shows no signs of slowing down. She transforms streaming numbers into career-defining moments. Her journey from a debut EP to billions of streams marks her as a force in global music. Ayra Starr proves that Nigerian music resonates worldwide.
