Top 15 Professional Cinematographers in Abuja- Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, is home to many gifted cinematographers who aid in bringing Nigerian stories to life through film and video.
Cinematographers in Abuja use their
talents and creative vision to create visually arresting images that inspire
and move viewers when shooting everything from commercials to music videos to
feature films and documentaries.
This article examines 15 of Abuja's top cinematographers, focusing on
their distinctive aesthetics, notable works, and Abuja-specific settings. These
cinematographers contribute to giving Abuja's film industry its distinct visual
identity, whether they are filming on location or in a studio.
They are in high demand in the Nigerian film industry and elsewhere due
to their artistic and technical prowess.
Here are the Top 15 Professional Cinematographers in Abuja
1. Chidi Okonkwo
Signature Style: Creative framing, tracking shots, off-kilter
compositions
Notable Projects: The Figurine, Anchor Baby, October 1st
Locations: Wuse 2, Maitama
Chidi Okonkwo, a director well-known for his dynamic tracking shots and
unusual camera angles, infuses his movies with life and visual tension. He
honed his craft while taking cinematography classes in France, and he has since
worked on films like The Figurine, Anchor Baby, and October 1. Okonkwo, who has
a base in Wuse 2, frequently shoots scenes in Maitama studios or on the streets
of Abuja. information Nigeria.
2. Kathryn Fasegha
Signature Style: Elegant framing, rich color palettes, sensual
lighting
Notable Projects: Gidi Up, MTV Shuga
Locations: Asokoro, Maitama
Kathryn Fasegha, one of Abuja's few female cinematographers, gives her
films a refined and personal quality. Gidi Up on Ndani TV and Shuga on MTV are
just two of the acclaimed productions she has worked on. Fasegha studied
photography in South Africa and frequently shoots in and around Abuja's
affluent Asokoro and Maitama neighborhoods.
3. Mofe Boyo
Signature Style: Vivid color and light, meaningful compositions,
versatility
Notable Projects: Nkiru, Struggle for Life
Locations: Maitama
Mofe Boyo is a versatile cinematographer who has experience shooting both
fiction and documentaries. Boyo, who studied film in London, has produced
renowned documentaries like Nkiru and Struggle for Life. At his Maitama studio,
he also manages the filming of commercials and music videos.
Signature Style: Technical perfectionist, sophisticated elegance,
precise compositions
Notable Projects: The Arbitration, Guinness campaigns
Locations: Maitama
Abiola Orimolade is a technical perfectionist who creates elegant shots
with exact camera placement and lighting. She has worked as a second unit
cinematographer on The Arbitration and has photographed branded projects for
big corporations like Guinness. Any visuals that come from Orimolade's Maitama studio
are sophisticated.
5. Nicki White
Signature Style: Dramatic lighting, stylish compositions, visually
impactful
Notable Projects: Road to Yesterday, Flower Girl
Locations: Wuse 2
Niyi White, who is renowned for his stylish lighting work, adds glitz to
his movies and commercials. In addition to working on projects for businesses
like Adidas, he has worked with directors like Ishaya Bako. From his studio in
Wuse 2, White creates chic visuals by using imaginative lighting and angles.
6. Yinka Edward
Signature Style: High-energy urban visuals, realistic
lightingRomantic love message
Notable Projects: Confusion Na Wa, MTV Shuga
Locations: Garki, Urban Abuja
Yinka Edward, a well-known photographer of vibrant urban stories, has
contributed to films like Confusion Na Wa and television programs like MTV
Shuga. His kinetic use of light and camera captures the vigor of Nigeria's
youth culture. Edward frequently shoots music videos and movies in Abuja's
streets and neighborhoods from his home base in Garki.
7. Shehu Garba
Signature Style: Efficient, effective, quick shooting style
Notable Projects: Bridge of Hope, Fire on the Mountain
Locations: Asokoro, Remote Areas
Shehu Garba, a seasoned member of Nollywood who is renowned for working
under pressure, uses a methodical and successful approach. He brings a cool
professionalism to set and has over 50 films under his belt. Garba frequently
shoots interior scenes at his Asokoro studio or in isolated areas outside of
Abuja.
A quick, efficient, and accurate shooting style is his signature. Projects
of note include Fire on the Mountain and the Bridge of Hope.
8. Victor Okhai
Signature Style: Refined elegance, polished visuals, immaculate
compositions
Notable Projects: Phone Swap, The Figurine
Locations: Wuse 2
Victor Okhai creates stunning images by incorporating a cultivated
elegance into his cinematography. In movies like Phone Swap and The Figurine,
he has worked with director Kunle Afolayan on several occasions. For Nigerian
cinema, Okhai's studio in Wuse 2 has aided in the production of polished
scenes.
9. Cecilia Ahodele
Signature Style: Intuitive framing, emotive lighting, unique
perspectives
Notable Projects: Hidden Treasures, Dry
Locations: Wuse 2
Cecilia Ahodele, one of Abuja's few highly accomplished female
cinematographers, offers a distinctive viewpoint with her natural camerawork.
Her filmography includes both fiction and documentary projects. Ahodele
frequently works from studios in Wuse 2, sculpting mood and atmosphere with
light.
10. Tunde Aladese
Signature Style: Naturalistic, handheld, available light
Notable Projects: A Soldier’s Story, MTV Shuga
Locations: Santa Ben.
Tunde Aladese's work feels incredibly authentic, blurring the line
between fiction and documentary. He has filmed notable productions like A
Soldier's Story and MTV's Shuga. To record live performances that take place in
his Santa Ben studio, Aladese uses handheld cameras and natural light
11. Emmanuel Adugu
Signature Style: Adaptive, genre-spanning, flexible
Notable Projects: Kajola, music videos
Locations: Maitama, Various Abuja Locales
Emmanuel Adugu, who is renowned for his versatility across genres—from
documentaries to music videos—adapts his visual style to the demands of each
project. For movies like Kajola and artists like Tuface, he has created
visually stunning compositions. Despite having a Maitama base, Adugu works on
projects all over Abuja.
12. Mary Ann Eshiett
Signature Style: Intimate portrayals of women, novel perspectives
Notable Projects: Mammy Water, Beauty
Locations: Garki
Mary Ann Eshiett is a proponent of more female cinematographers in
Nollywood and is assisting in changing the industry. In movies like Beauty and
Mammy Water, she captures personal depictions of women's experiences. Eshiett
conducts her business out of her Garki studio while filming assignments all
over Abuja.
13. Sunmi Oyekan
Signature Style: Skilled use of architecture and space, elegant
camera movement
Notable Projects: Death and the King’s Horseman
Locations: Asokoro
Having studied architecture in the past, Sunmi Oyekan's cinematography
possesses a keen sense of space. The camera is gracefully moved through both
interior and exterior spaces as she composes her shots. Oyekan's Asokoro studio
served as the location for critically acclaimed movies like Death and the
King's Horseman.
14. Dede Mabiaku
Signature Style: Stylized perspectives, dramatic lighting, bold
colors
Notable Projects: Design Fashion Africa, Juju Stories
Locations: Garki
In Abuja's cinematography scene, Dede Mabiaku is a gifted up-and-comer.
His early work demonstrates great promise in his use of color, lighting, and
angled perspectives. For brands like Design Fashion Africa and motion pictures
like Juju Stories, Mabiaku has produced branded content.
15. Samuel Olatunji
Signature Style: Unconventional perspectives, experimental
techniques, subverts expectations
Notable Projects: Confusion Na Wa, Elevator Baby
Locations: Asokoro
Rounding out Abuja’s top cinematographers, Samuel Olatunji is known for
his experimentation and unconventional perspectives. He has shot acclaimed
films like Confusion Na Wa and Elevator Baby that subvert expectations.
Olatunji’s Asokoro studio has helped him craft bold visual storytelling that
surprises audiences.
Abuja boasts a diverse range of talented cinematographers with unique visual styles. They help bring Nigerian narratives to life and shape the look of films made in the capital city.
Their technical skills, creative eye, and artistic perspectives make them invaluable contributors to Nigeria’s film community.
From shooting features to documentaries, commercials, and music
videos, Abuja’s top cinematographers represent the breadth of visual
storytelling happening in the city. Their work elevates Nigerian cinema and
introduces new stylistic innovations to screens worldwide.
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