By Etop Ekanem

A  fast rising talented music, video director and event producer, Edesiri Adese,  has defied the odds to make a name for himself in the highly competitive Nigerian entertainment industry.  

With a portfolio boasting top Nigerian brands like Warri Again, I Go Save, Young Chief, Bovi, and Elvis Poko, Adese’s rise to stardom is a testament to his dedication and passion for his craft.

In an exclusive interview, Adese shared his journey into music video directing, which began in 2017 when he started taking photos of market traders and hawkers in Warri, saying: “I actively began seeking opportunities to start telling more quality African stories.”

Adese credits YouTube and his mentors, some of which are  Mr. Steven,  Mr. Godwin, and Mr. Onye Ubanatu, for shaping his knowledge as a filmmaker and creative.

Adese’s story is one of resilience and determination. After a car accident forced him to abandon his football dreams, he discovered a new passion for music video directing, adding: “God came through and gave me another vision and dreams, which is now what I am doing today.” 

On the state of Nollywood, Adese praised the industry’s growth, particularly among new creative storytellers. However, he noted that movie budgets need to be improved to match international standards.

 “We all will keep doing our bit to drive African storytelling through entertaining and educational content,” he said.

Adese also expressed frustration with the lack of collaboration between directors and producers in the industry, citing hierarchy and competition as major obstacles.

He cited the the likes of Colin Tilley moo, Director X, Meji Alabi, Clarence Peters, and DAPS as industry Icons that have influences on his work.

When asked about the distribution of video content in Nigeria, the video director observed that many artists and labels do not invest enough in distribution and promotion, noting: “If you spend on content creation, you need to spend double on promotion.” 

To aspiring music video directors, Adese offered this advice: “Pick up what you have and start doing the work. Pick up your phone, create something, edit it, watermark it with your handle, and put it up online. Keep doing what you claim you have passion for, and sooner or later, your work will speak for itself.”