Abula (cinematographer)

Abula
Born
Abdulazeez Greene Oladimeji

23 February
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
EducationLagos State Model College, Igbogbo
Alma materLagos State University
Occupation(s)music video director, filmmaker, cinematographer, talent manager
Spouse
​
(m. 2021)​

Abdulazeez Greene Oladimeji (born 23 February) known mononym as Abula, is a Nigerian-born cinematographer, music video director, commercial director, filmmaker, and talent manager. He currently serves as the CEO, and founder of The Greenade Company. He has directed music videos, and commercials for Zlatan, Fireboy DML, Portable, Dr Dolor, MohBad, Adekunle Gold, and Taaooma.

His production credit includes Zlatan's "My Body", Dr Dolor's "I go pay", "Madam The Madam", and Mohbad's "Ponmo Sweet".

Biography

I was insulted several times in my struggling days.

- Abula[1]

Abdulazeez Greene Oladimeji was born on 23 February, in Lagos. He attended Lagos State Model College, for his secondary education, and Lagos State University, for his Tertiary education.[2] At the age of 13, he began shooting videos with his phone,[3] and took it as a career while he was an undergraduate at Lagos State University, studying History and International Relations. In the mid-2010s, he relocated to Kwara State after his studies for his National Youth Service Corps. While still serving, he ventured into content creating and created the character, Sergeant Semiu Macaulay.[2] During his stay in Kwara, he met Taaooma, who was an undergraduate at that time.[4]

In 2016, he launched his professional career, as a video director in Abuja. In 2017, he came into the limelight and was credited as the co-director of "My Body" by Zlatan, and shot by Unlimited L.A. In 2018, Taaooma went viral for a skit he produced, about African Parents taking their kids to school.[5] In 2020, he was credited for directing numerous music videos including "Ponmo Sweet" by Mohbad;[6] and "I go pay" by Dr Dolors, starring Mercy Eke and Taaooma;[7] which earned him a City People nomination in 2020,[8] in the Music Video Director of the Year category.[9] In 2022, he was the executive producer of Fireboy DML's Tiny Desk Concerts,[10][11] and "Madam The Madam" by Dr Dolor, starring Regina Daniels.[12]

Personal life

In October 2020, he was engaged to Maryam Apaokagi (aka. Taaooma) in Namibia,[13] and got married on 24 January 2021.[14]

Accolades

Year Award Category Result
2020 City People Music Awards Music Video Director of the Year Nominated
2023 The Future Awards Africa Prize for Film Pending

References

  1. ^ "I was insulted several times in my struggling days- Abula". The Sun Nigeria. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Five facts you should know about Abula". P.M. News. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Content creation should be added to Education syllabus- Abula". Vanguard News. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  4. ^ "I proposed to Taaooma with her parents' consent –Fiance, Abula". Punch Newspapers. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. ^ "INTERVIEW: Why I slap my daughter in skits – Popular instagram comedienne, Taaoma". Premium Times Nigeria. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ "[Video] Mohbad – "Ponmo Sweet" ft. Naira Marley x Lil Kesh". tooXclusive. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Dr Dolor & Mercy Eke are Loved Up in the Video for "I Go Pay"". BellaNaija. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. ^ "#CPMA2020: Citypeople releases nominations for 2020 Music Awards". City People Magazine. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Winners Emerge At 2020 City People Music Awards [Full List]". City People Magazine. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  10. ^ Harris, LaTesha (3 March 2022). "Fireboy DML Tiny Desk Home Concert". NPR. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  11. ^ Online, Tribune (3 July 2021). "Nigerian video directors now getting foreign recognition, says Abula". Tribune Online. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  12. ^ Tv, Bn (2 April 2021). "New Video: Dr Dolor – Madam The Madam". BellaNaija. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Video: Taaooma, Abula share their engagement story". P.M. News. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  14. ^ "PHOTOS: Taaooma marks first wedding anniversary". TheCable Lifestyle. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.