Sesan (video director)

Last updated

Sesan Ogunro
Born
Education University of West London
Occupation
  • Cinematographer
Years active2005–present
Website directedbysesan.com

Sesan Ogunro (born 11 January 1983) is a Nigerian music video director based in the United Kingdom, often credited for his work as Sesan. He has directed music videos for Afrobeats genre artists such as D'Banj, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Davido. He is the CEO of Film Factory Nigeria, a video production company in Lagos; and Film Factory South Africa, in Johannesburg.

Contents

Early life

Sesan spent his early childhood in his birthplace Lagos, Nigeria before moving to the UK with his family, where he attended secondary school in London.

He graduated with a degree in 3D Animation and Visual effects from the University of West London. [1]

Sesan was inspired by his late father and namesake Sesan Ogunro Sr., who ran Eminent Communications, one of the largest advertising agencies in Lagos until his death in 2013. [2]

Career

After university, Sesan pursued film projects in the UK urban underground scene through his co-owned production company, Mastermind Promotions which paved the way for him to branch into the mainstream arena. In 2005 he took on the role as the Head of Post Production with global advertising agency, McCann Erickson, London.

In 2007, he met Afrobeats/Afropop artist D'Banj in a nightclub in Lagos and agreed to film the video for his upcoming single, "Suddenly". Filmed in Lagos, Sesan's Afrobeat directorial debut lead to future award-winning collaborations with D’Banj. These would include the music video for "Oliver Twist", which premiered on YouTube in 2012. [3]

The song was nominated for the World Music Award Best Video of the Year and a Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Video of the Year award in 2012. [4] [5]

Sesan continues to work with artists in all genres such as Grammy nominated duo Riton and Kah-Lo, and has been acclaimed as one of Nigeria's most respected directors. [6]

Selected videography

Awards

YearProjectCeremonyCategoryResult
2011 D'Banj ft Snoop Dogg, "Mr Endowed" Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Male Video Won
2012 D'Banj ft Kanye West, "Oliver Twist (D'banj song)" Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Male Video  [5] Won
2012 D'Banj ft Kanye West, "Oliver Twist (D'banj song)" Channel O Music Video Awards Video of the Year Won
2012 D'Banj ft Kanye West, "Oliver Twist (D'banj song)" World Music Awards [4] Best Music Video Nominated
2015 Davido, "The Sound" MTV Africa Music Awards Best VideoNominated
2016 Wizkid ft Uhuru, "Soweto Baby" MTV Africa Music Awards Best Collaboration VideoWon
2018 Shatta Wale, "Gringo" All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)Best Music Video of the YearWon

Personal life

Sesan is brother to OAP and producer Fade Ogunro and they run production company, Film Factory together. [10]

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References

  1. "Sesan Ogunro Biography - Age". MyBioHub. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  2. Eribake, Akintayo (23 December 2013). "Advertising guru, Sesan Ogunro, murdered in Lagos".
  3. "D'banj - Oliver Twist (Official Video)" via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 "D'banj bags 4 nominations at World Music Awards". 12 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 "D'banj wins Best Male Video award at Channel O Video Awards - Nigeria Music Network". www.nigeriamusicnetwork.com.
  6. "Premiere: Grammy Nominees Riton & Kah-Lo Connect With Acclaimed Director Sesan Ogunro For "Ginger" Visuals". 4 July 2018.
  7. "Davido – "Pere" (Feat. Young Thug & Rae Sremmurd) Video". 28 July 2017.
  8. "Premiere: Grammy Nominees Riton & Kah-Lo Connect With Acclaimed Director Sesan Ogunro For "Ginger" Visuals". Complex.
  9. Larbi-Amoah, Lawrencia. "'Gringo' – The Most Expensive Video From Shatta Wale Premieres On MTVBase On April 27".
  10. Eze, Mary Jane (12 January 2016). "Ex-Beat FM OAP, Fade Ogunro Speaks On How She Managed 'Two Husbands' At A Time". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 14 September 2020.