Okechukwu Oku (), also known as Okey Oku and nicknamed "the Oracle", is a Nigerian film producer, director, cinematographer and occasional musician.[1] He is best known for directing the movies Love and Oil (2014), Burning Bridges (2014) and Bambitious[2] (2014) which featured Belinda Effah and Daniel K Daniel.
Okechukwu Oku | |
|---|---|
| Born | Okechukwu Oku Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Okey Oku, the Oracle |
| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, director, cinematographer |
| Years active | 2001 – present |
| Notable work | Bambitious |
| Spouse | Queendalyn Oku |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editOku was born in Enugu, the capital city of Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria and is the second of eleven children of Goddy and Winifred Oku.[3] He is of Igbo descent and hails from Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria.[4] His father, Goddy was a popular Nigerian musician in the 1970s and his mother Winifred Oku is a retired Nigerian Civil Servant. Oku’s younger brother, Udoka 'Selebobo' Oku, is a music producer and singer.[5]
Oku began his formal education at the WTC Primary School in Enugu and went on to St. Charles Special Science School, Onitsha, Anambra State. Halfway through his University education, Oku left school to pursue his passion in the arts; Oku immersed himself in music, recording a few gospel tracks of his own[6] and producing music for a number of musicians in Southeast Nigeria,[7] Oku eventually veered into the art of music video directing.
Career
editIn 2001, Oku began shooting music videos for a number of music performers from South-Eastern Nigerian including Resonance (Lee Lee), Flavour N'abania (Ada Ada)[5] and SeleBobo. His love for cinematography grew stronger thus leading to his gradual venture into feature film production in 2011.
Oku began working as a cinematographer and film editor in 2011 and worked on a number of African movies including The Great Niger Mission (2011, Nigeria), Brother's Keeper (2012, Nigeria), Jafaar (2012, Nigeria), Reflection (2012, Sierra Leone), Last 3 Digits (2012, Nigeria), Refugee (2013, Ghana), and The Duplex (2013, Nigeria).
In 2013, Oku began directing and producing his own feature films; Love and Oil (2014, Nigeria), Burning Bridges (2014, Nigeria), The Bible (2014, Nigeria), The Boss is Mine (2016, Nigeria),[8] and Black Rose (2016, Nigeria, released 2018)[9]
His work as an Editor and Cinematographer in the 2014 Feature Film, Brother's Keeper earned him nominations at the 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards for Best Cinematography,[10] as well as the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards for Best Editing.[11]
In 2015, Oku received several awards at the Afrifimo Awards and Film /Music Festival including the award for Best Film Director, Best Cinematographer and Best Video Editor. His movie Bambitious, which features Nigerian Actor Daniel K Daniel, also took home the gong for Best Independent Film and Best Romance[12]
In December 2015, Oku was nominated for Best Cinematographer for a Movie or TV Series at the 2016 African Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) for the film The Refugees.[13]
Personal life
editOku is married to Queendalyn Oku.[14] They have three children and live in Enugu, Nigeria.
Filmography
editFeature Films
| Year | Title | Major Cast | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Brother's Keeper | Omoni Oboli, Beverly Naya, Majid Michel, Barbara Soki | Cinematographer, Editor | Feature Film, nominated for the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards for Best Editing and also for the 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards for Best Cinematography |
| 2012 | Last 3 Digits | Nonso Diobi, Sidney "Dr. Sid" Esiri, Yomi Blaq, Rachel Oniga | Director of Photography | Feature Film, won Best International Film Award |
| 2013 | Finding Mercy | Rita Dominic, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Chioma Akpotha | Director of Photography | Feature Film, Africa Movie Academy Award - Best Actor, Nollywood Movie Award - Best Rising Star, Nigerian Entertainment Award - Best Supporting Actor |
| 2014 | Love and Oil | Yul Edochie, Nuella Njubigbo, Jibola Dabo, Chinaza Ekezie | Director | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Burning Bridges | Ivie Okujaye, Ken Erics, Esther Audu | Director | Feature Film |
| 2014 | Bambitious[15] | Belinda Effah, Bucci Franklin, Daniel K Daniel, Ebele Okaro-Onyiuke | Director, Cinematographer, Editor | Feature Film, won multiple awards at the AAFMF |
| 2014 | Refugees | Yvonne Nelson, Belinda Effah, Diana Yekinni, Sandra Don Dufe, Ross Fleming, David Chin | Cinematographer | Feature Film, nominated for Best Cinematography at the 2016 AMVCA |
| 2014 | Chetanna | Chigozie Atuanya, Queen Nwokoye | DP, Editor | Feature Film, nominated for Best Igbo Film at the 2014 AMVCA and won GIAMA Awards for Best Indigenous Film |
| 2016 | A Better Family | Frederick Leonard, IK Ogbonna | Director, DP, Editor | Feature Film, released on YouTube |
| 2016 | Excess Luggage | IK Ogbonna, Mike Ezuronye, Queen Nwokoye | DP, Editor | Feature Film, nominated for the BON Awards for Best Comedy and a Toronto Film Festival Official Selection |
| 2016 | Jofran | IK Ogbonna, Lisa Omorodion | Producer, Director, DP, Editor | Feature Film, Africa Magic Original Film |
| 2016 | Let's hit the Streets | Alex Ekubo, IK Ogbonna | Director, DP, Editor | Feature Film |
| 2016 | Tommy and Kenny | Belinda Effah, Buchi Franklin | Director, DP, Editor | Feature Film |
| 2017 | Dirty Laundry | Zach Orji, Kalu Ikeagu | Producer, Director, DP, Editor | Feature Film, Africa Magic Original Film |
| 2017 | American Driver | Evan King, Jim Iyke, Anita Chris, Nse Ikpe Etim, Nadia Buari, Emma Nyra, Ayo Makun, Laura Heuston, McPc the Comedian, Michael Tula, Andie Raven | Cinematographer | Feature Film, won Best Comedy at The People's Film Festival in 2017 |
| 2017 | Sarah's Epiphany | Daniella Okeke, Mike Ezuruonye, Anthony Monjaro | Director | Feature Film |
| 2018 | BlackRose | Amaka Aneke, Chisom Asadu, Ngozi Ezeonu,
Nancy Isime |
Director | Drama / Romance |
| 2019 | Levi | Ramsey Nouah, Nancy Isime, Deyemi Okanlawon | Director/Producer/Editor | Feature Film |
| 2020 | 30 and Single | Emmanuella Iloba, Monica Friday, Amaka Chukwujekwu | Director | Comedy / Romance |
Music Videos
- Lee Lee (Resonance)
- Ada Ada (Flavour N'abania)[16]
- Yoyo (Selebobo)
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards | Best Cinematography | Brother's Keeper | Nominated |
| 2014 | 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards | Best Editing | Brother's Keeper | Nominated |
| 2015 | Afrifimo Awards and Film /Music Festival[12] | Best Film Director | Bambitious | Won |
| 2016 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA)[13] | Best Cinematographer for a Movie or TV Series | Refugees | Nominated |
| 2018 | Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA)[17] | Best Film Editor | Black Rose | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Okechukwu Oku Archives". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Nwaebele, Emeka (25 November 2014). "BAMBITIOUS: FIRST EVER MOVIE TO BE PREMIERED IN ENUGU". Nigeriafilms.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ TECH. "Okechukwu Oku: Biography". imdb.com. United States. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ Nwadike, Chinedu (4 July 2015). "Selebobo's Elder Brother Okey Oku (TheOracle) Nominated for best director at the AAFMF Awards". otowngist.com. Enugu, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ a b S, Kay (25 July 2015). "Selebobo's Elder Brother Okey Oku (TheOracle) Nominated for best director at the AAFMF Awards". KorrectNaija.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ Jojo, Olia (10 December 2011). "FRESH XMAS MUSIC: OKEY OKU - SILENT NIGHT". justjojoentertainment.com. Enugu, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ Aniocha, Emeka (9 December 2011). "New Music: The Oracle a.k.a Okey Oku - Silent Night". IgboKwenuRadio.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "The Boss Movie Website". Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Oku... 'King' of eastern filmmaking goes global with BlackRose". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "ANNOUNCING THE 2013 GIAMA NOMINEES". Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "NMA 2014 WINNERS LIST". Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ a b "AAFMF 2015 AWARDEES". Afrifimo. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ a b "FULL LIST OF NOMINEES FOR THE 2016 AMVCA". TheNETng. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Blaise, Julia (26 July 2015). "CEO Oracle Films, Okechukwu Oku Dedicates Son". JuliaBlaise.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (2 December 2014). "Bambitious: Daniel K Daniel, Belinda Effah, Selebobo attend Enugu premiere". Pulse Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ Ayeni, Kunle (3 July 2013). "VIDEO: Flavour – 'Ada ada'". TheNETng. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "ZAFAA Global Award 2018 – the Complete Winners List | African Glitz Magazine".