Meji Alabi | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Meji Alabi |
Born | London, UK | 13 December 1988
Occupation(s) | Filmmaker, music video director, Photographer, Producer |
Years active | 2014 - Present |
Website | mejialabi |
Meji Alabi (born 13 December 1988) is a London-born Nigerian filmmaker, director, photographer and producer. He is a director and has worked alongside Beyonce, [1] [2] Burna Boy, [3] Wizkid, [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Davido, Tiwa Savage, Popcaan, Goldlink, Koffee and Nasty C. [9]
Born on December 13, 1988, in London, Meji spent a lot of his childhood on the move with his father after his parents’ separation in 1989. He shuffled between London, the Bahamas, and Texas, USA. He attended Spring Forest Middle School and Stratford High School both in Houston, Texas. Meji Alabi graduated from the University of West London with a first-class summa cum laude distinction in Accounting and Finance, and also holds a Licensed Vocational Nursing degree from St. Phillips College in San Antonio, Texas. [10] [11]
In 2014, Meji Alabi co-founded JM Films with Jimi Adesanya. [12] JM Films (a subsidiary of Unbound Studios) is a media and production services company specialised in creative visuals, music videos, commercials, movies and television and is based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a co-founder of Priorgold Pictures which is a production outfit based in Lagos, Nigeria created to service the needs of the entertainment industry by providing equipment and personnel for the execution of creative visual content.
In 2014, he directed the music video for ‘Murda’ performed by Seyi Shay featuring Patoranking, Shaydee. The success of this video garnered him much attention in the Nigerian music industry and it was nominated in the same year at the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Video. Also in 2014, he directed the music video for ‘Crazy’ performed by Seyi Shay featuring Wizkid and that video was nominated in 2015 for Best Music Video of the Year (Artist and Director) at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and also Best Music Video at The Headies 2015.
In 2016, he directed the video for ‘Kontrol’ by Maleek Berry which marked a new wave of him directing music videos for the Nigerian music industry’s elite. In the same year, he directed ‘Aje’ performed by Alikiba which won the Best Music Video award at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival in 2017. [13]
In 2018, Meji directed the video for Davido’s single ‘Assurance’ off the ‘A Good Time’.
Since 2018, Meji Alabi has worked with Burna Boy on some of his projects. He directed Pull Up, On The Low, and Gum Body featuring Jorja Smith off Burna Boy's album ‘African Giant’. Meji also directed the videos for Way Too Big, Wonderful, Monsters You Made featuring Chris Martin and Real Life featuring Stormzy off the ‘Twice As Tall’ album.
Meji Alabi also worked with Wizkid on the Made in Lagos album, and holds directing credits for the music videos for Ginger featuring Burna Boy, No Stress and Smile featuring H.E.R
In 2020, Meji Alabi served as a producer alongside Jimi Adesanya for the Nigerian footage for the Black Is King visual project executively produced by Beyonce Knowles-Carter. He also worked alongside Ibra Ake and Jenn Nkiru to execute the Grammy Award-winning ‘Brown Skin Girl’ music video for which he was credited as co-director. [14] [15] [16]
In 2021, Meji Alabi worked with Black Dog Films as director of the visual project for the ‘Zero Malaria: Draw The Line Against Malaria’ campaign. The movement features Nigerian actress and philanthropist Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, actor and entrepreneur Osas Ighodaro, Kenyan Olympic Gold-medallist and marathon world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge, South African explorer and mountaineer Saray Khumalo, Nigerian artist Laolu Senbanjo current captain of the South Africa national Rugby team Siya Kolisi, and Rwandan-British choreographer Sherrie Silver. [17]
Title | Year | Artist(s) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"Murda" | 2014 | Seyi Shay (feat. Patoranking & Shaydee) | |
"Crazy" | 2015 | Seyi Shay (feat. Wizkid) | |
"Satan Be Gone" | Asa | ||
"Eyo" | Asa | ||
"Right Now" | Seyi Shay | ||
"Never Gonna Stop" | Niyola | ||
"Kontrol" | 2016 | Maleek Berry | |
"Aje" | Alikiba | ||
"For Life" | 2017 | Runtown | |
"Ma Lo" | Tiwa Savage (feat. Wizkid) | ||
"All Night" | Yungen (feat. Mr Eazi) | ||
"Unstable" | Zak Abel | ||
"Been Callin" | Maleek Berry | ||
"All Night" | Yungen | ||
"Sugarcane" | Tiwa Savage | ||
"Check" | 2018 | Kojo Funds (feat. Raye) | |
"Space For Two" | Mr. Probz | ||
"Property" | Mr Eazi | ||
"Fever" | Wizkid | ||
"Get It Now Remix" | Tiwa Savage ( feat. Omarion) | ||
"Assurance" | Davido | ||
"On The Low" | Burna Boy | ||
"Dun Rich" | Popcaan (feat.Davido) | ||
"Pon My Mind" | Maleek Berry | ||
"Jungle" | Nasty C | ||
"Energy" | Skepta & Wizkid | ||
"No Crime" | Nonso Amadi | ||
"London Town" | Mr Eazi feat. Giggs | ||
"Take Over" | Beatfreakz feat. Mr Eazi, Seyi Shay, Shakka, | ||
"Dis Love" | 2019 | DJ Spinall (feat. Wizkid & Tiwa Savage) | |
"Sweet in the Middle" | Davido(feat. Naira Marley, Zlatan Ibile & Wurld) | ||
"Pull Up" | Burna Boy | ||
"Risky" | Davido (feat. Popcaan) | ||
"Traffic Jam" | Banx+Ranx feat. Kojo Funds | ||
"Gum Body" | Burna Boy (feat. Jorja Smith) | ||
"49-99" | Tiwa Savage | ||
"Zulu Screams" | Goldlink | ||
"Body Deep" | Wavy The Creator | ||
"Hold Me Down" | Eugy feat. Wavy The Creator | ||
"Wonderful" | 2020 | Burna Boy | |
"4AM" | Manny Norte | ||
"Dangerous Love" | Tiwa Savage | ||
"Cause A Commotion" | Bugzy Malone feat. Skip Marley | ||
"Cool As A Breeze" | Chronixx | ||
"Monsters You Made" | Burna Boy feat. Chris Martins | ||
"Cool Me Down" | DJ Tunez (feat. Wizkid) | ||
"Way Too Big" | Burna Boy | ||
"Kini Issue" | Runtown | ||
"No Stress" | Wizkid | ||
"Smile" | Wizkid (feat. H.E.R) | ||
"Lento" | Mr Eazi (feat. J Balvin) | ||
"Real Life" | Burna Boy feat. Stormzy | ||
"Ginger" | 2021 | Wizkid (feat. Burna Boy) | |
"Hide n' Seek" | 2022 | Stormzy | |
"Aboboyaa" | 2023 | Popcaan (feat. Burna Boy) | |
"Party Girls" | Victoria Monét (feat. Buju Banton) | ||
"My Love" | Leigh-Anne (feat. Ayra Starr) |
Title | Year | Brand(s) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"Cloth Surgeon" | 2016 | Complex & Selfridges | |
"Npango" | 2017 | Tigo Nipa | |
"S4" | 2018 | Infinix | |
"Fashion Week" | GTB | ||
"Beauty Launch Campaign" | 2019 | UOMA | |
"Autism: A Mother Knows" | GTB | ||
"Food & Drink" | GTB | ||
"Fashion Is Freedom " | GTB | ||
"No. 5" | Infinix | ||
"Black Shines Brightest" | 2021 | Guinness | |
"Never Stop Wishing" | 2021 | OREO | |
"Big Deals: Lunch" | 2022 | KFC | |
"Big Deals: Tuesday" | 2022 | KFC | |
"Training Wheels" | 2022 | Toyota | |
"Made to Move" | 2022 | Cadillac | |
"Yummy Snacks" | 2023 | Fanta | |
"Just Add Zero" | 2023 | Coca-Cola |
Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 | Best Video | Nominated | ||
2015 | 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Music Video of the year (Artist & Director) | "Crazy" (Seyi Shay) | Nominated | |
The Headies 2015 | Best Music Video Director | "Seyi Shay (Crazy)" [A] | Nominated | ||
2016 | The Headies 2016 | Nominated | |||
2017 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Music Video of the Year | "Seyi Shay(Yolo Yolo)" | Won | |
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival | Best Music Video | "Alikiba (Aje)" [A] | Won | ||
2018 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Music Video of the year (Artist & Director) | "Malo" (Tiwa Savage) | Nominated | |
The Headies 2018 | Best Music Video Director | "Tiwa Savage (Malo)" [A] | Nominated | ||
2020 | The Headies 2020 | "Wizkid (Smile)" [A] | Nominated | ||
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival | Video Of The Year | "Tiwa Savage (49-99)" | Won | [18] [19] | |
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, who is known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a prominent voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
The discography of Wizkid, a Nigerian Afrobeats singer, consists of five studio albums, two EPs, fifty-three singles, forty-four promotional singles, sixteen guest appearances, six cameo appearances and thirty-five music videos. Wizkid started his music career at age 11, releasing a seven-track collaborative album with Glorious Five entitled Lil Prinz. Wizkid garnered notoriety when he collaborated with Naeto C, Ikechukwu, M.I and Kel. He signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment in 2009. From 2009 through 2011, Wizkid worked on materials for his debut album Superstar (2011). Superstar was supported by the singles "Love My Baby", "Pakurumo", "Tease Me/Bad Guys", "Don't Dull" and "Holla at Your Boy".
The MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 took place on 7 June 2014, at the Durban International Convention Centre. The awards aired live across Africa on MTV Base and MTV. The ceremony was sponsored by KwaZulu-Natal Province, Absolut and the City of Durban. The show was hosted by American comedian and actor Marlon Wayans. The ceremony featured performances from artists such as Miguel, Trey Songz, Flavour N'abania, French Montana, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Mafikizolo, Uhuru, Oskido, Professor, Diamond Platnumz, Phyno, Yuri Da Cunha, Sauti Sol, Sarkodie, Ice Prince, The Arrows, Khuli Chana, Dr SID, Fally Ipupa, Michael Lowman, Don Jazzy, DJ Clock, Beatenberg, DJ Kent, Big Nuz, Toofan, D'Banj, DJ Vigi, DJ Tira, DJ Buckz, and Burna Boy. On 27 May 2014, the nominees for the MTV Base Leadership Award were announced. On 28 May, MTV Base revealed Drake, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, and Miley Cyrus as the nominees for the Best International Act category. Davido and Mafikizolo received the most nominations with four each. Mi Casa and P-Square received three nominations. Diamond Platnumz and Wizkid were nominated twice for both Best Male and Best Collaboration.
The 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards took place on 31 August 2014, at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The eligibility period was from March 2013 to March 2014. In April 2014, the NEA reviewing committee began collecting submissions for the 2014 edition. The deadline for submission was April 30, 2014, and the nominations were announced on May 29, 2014. Tiwa Savage and Davido received the most nominations with 5 each. Don Jazzy, Flavour N'abania and Wizkid all got four nominations each, while Olamide, Patoranking, Chidinma and Oritse Femi followed closely with three nominations.
Chibuzo Nelson Azubuike Ezege, who is known professionally as Phyno, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Phyno was born and raised in Enugu State but is a native of Anambra State. He started his music career as a producer in 2003, and is renowned for rapping in the Igbo language. His debut studio album No Guts No Glory, which was released in March 2014, yielded the singles "Ghost Mode", "Man of the Year", "Parcel" and "O Set".
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, professionally known as Spinall, is a Nigerian disc jockey, record producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums and collaborated with artists that have included Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asake among others. He has won numerous awards for his work, including All Africa Music Awards and The Beatz Awards. He is also the first Nigerian disc jockey to play at festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, and Glastonbury.
The 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards was the 10th edition of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Wizkid won the most awards while Olamide received the most nominations with three across 39 award categories. Kiss Daniel won the Best New Act to Watch award while Praiz won the Best R&B Act award after he toppled the likes of Banky W, Chidinma, Seyi Shay, Timi Dakolo and Shaydee. The award was held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, U.S.A and was hosted by Osas Ighodaro and Ice Prince.
African Giant is the fourth studio album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The album was released on July 26, 2019, by Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Warner Music. The album is a mixture of Afrobeats, Afrobeat, dancehall, pop and hip hop. It was produced primarily by Kel-P, along with production from Benjamz, Dre Skull and Skrillex, among others. The album features guest appearances from Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Damian Marley, Zlatan Ibile, Angelique Kidjo, Serani, M.anifest, YG and Future. It was supported by eight singles, including "On the Low", which won Viewers' Choice at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, "Killin Dem", which won Song of the Year at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, among other awards; and "Anybody", which Burna Boy performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Afrobeats is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing majorly out of Nigeria. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Ibra Ake is a Nigerian-American artist. He has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, photographer, and creative director. He is best known for his work as a writer on the FX show, Atlanta, and director on Beyonce's visual album, Black is King. In 2019, he won a Grammy as a producer on Childish Gambino's music video, "This Is America".
ThankGod Omori Jesam known professionally as TG Omori or Boy Director, is a Nigerian music video director and cinematographer. TG Omori has directed music videos for recording artists across various genres of new generation, includes Olamide, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tekno, Kizz Daniel, Fireboy DML, Falz, Timaya, Naira Marley, Asake and many others.
Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story also known as The Armadas is a 2020 Nigerian thriller action film executive produced by Charles Okpaleke and directed by Ramsey Nouah. It is the official remake of the 1995 Nigerian classic action thriller film Rattlesnake which was directed by Amaka Igwe. The film stars Stan Nze, Chiwetalu Agu, Osas Ighodaro, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Ayo Makun in the lead roles. It had its theatrical release on 13 November 2020. It received mixed reviews from critics and ranked 24th overall on the list of highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time at the end of its theatrical run. It is regarded as one of the best Nigerian films of 2020.
Aremu Olaiwola Qudus is a Nigerian music video director. He has worked with artists of several musical genres including Wizkid, Skepta, Davido, Burna Boy and many others, winning 2020 The Headies Award for best music video of the year.
Buari Olalekan Oluwasegun is a Nigerian music video director.
Adasa Cookey is a Nigerian-born music video director, cinematographer, commercial director, colourist, and filmmaker. He works and directs for Squareball Media Productions Limited where he is also the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Akano Samuel is a Nigerian record producer, Mixing Engineer and Arranger. Born in Niger State, Minna He is notable with the mainstream sound tag "Classic" and "if it's Spax then it gotta be" which is well known in the African mainstream music scene.
Jehovah-Nissi Ogulu, known professionally as Nissi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, fine artist and founder of Creele Animation Studios.
Praise Onyeagwalam known professionally as Director Pink is a Nigerian music video director, cinematographer and film director. She directed the music video "Running To You" and "Abracadabra”. She is also the founder of "Pinkline Films", a Nigerian film company.