Okechukwu Oku , also known as Okey Oku and nicknamed "the Oracle", is a Nigerian film producer, director, cinematographer and occasional musician. He is best known for directing the movies ''Love and Oil'' (2014), ''Burning Bridges'' (2014) and '' Bambitious'' (2014) which featured

Belinda Effah Grace-Charis Bassey Effah (born 14 December 1989) is a Nigerian actress and presenter. She has won six awards throughout her career, including the '' Most Promising Act of the Year'' award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She changed her ...

and Daniel K Daniel.

Early life

Oku was born in

Enugu Enugu ( ; ) is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in southeastern part of Nigeria. The city had a population of 820,000 according to the 2022 Nigerian census. The name ''Enugu'' is derived from the two Igbo words ''Énú ...

, south-eastern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

and is the second of eleven children of Goddy and Winifred Oku. He is of

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a ...

descent and hails from Ukpo in

Dunukofia Dunukofia is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. Towns that make up the local government are Ukpo, the headquarters; Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Umunnachi, Umudioka, Ukwulu and Nawgu. It shares boundaries with Awka North, Idem ...

local government area of

Anambra State Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...

. 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 Udoka Chigozie Oku, also known by his stage name Selebobo, is a Nigerian singer and a songwriter. Formerly signed to Made Men Music Group. Selebobo is most known for his singles, "Yoyo', "Selfie", and "Waka Waka". He has also collaborated with Fl ...

' Oku, is a music producer and singer. 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 and producing music for a number of musicians in Southeast Nigeria, Oku eventually veered into the art of music video directing.

Career

In 2001, Oku began shooting music videos for a number of music performers from South Eastern Nigerian including Resonance (Lee Lee),

Flavour N'abania Chinedu Okoli (born 23 November 1983), better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania or simply Flavour, is a Nigerian singer. He began his musical career as a drummer for a local church. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world ...

(Ada Ada) and

SeleBobo Udoka Chigozie Oku, also known by his stage name Selebobo, is a Nigerian singer and a songwriter. Formerly signed to Made Men Music Group. Selebobo is most known for his singles, "Yoyo', "Selfie", and "Waka Waka". He has also collaborated with Fl ...

. 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), and ''

Black Rose Black Rose or Black Roses may refer to: Books * Black Rose (.hack), a fictional character from the .hack media franchise * Black Rose (magazine), ''Black Rose'' (magazine), an anarchist magazine published in Boston during the 1970s and 1980s * Bla ...

(2016, Nigeria, released 2018) 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 The 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards was the second edition of the ceremony to reward excellence in African cinema. It was hosted by Ramsey Nouah. Awards Categories ; Best Motion Picture * ''Brother's Keeper (2014 film)'' * ''Finding Merc ...

for ''Best Cinematography'', as well as the

2014 Nollywood Movies Awards The 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards was held on October 18, 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos. Awards Winners are in bold. ; Best Movie *A Mile From Home *Confusion Na Wa *Itoro *Make a Move *Unforgivable *False *Flower Girl * Brother’s Keepe ...

for ''Best Editing''. 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 In December 2015, Oku was nominated for Best Cinematographer for a Movie or TV Series at the 2016 ''African Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (

AMVCA ''Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards'' (AMVCA) is an annual accolade presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film. The inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony was held in Lagos, Lagos State ...

)'' for the film ''The Refugees''.

Personal life

Oku is married to Queendalyn Oku. They have three children and live in Enugu, Nigeria.

Filmography

Feature Films Music Videos *Lee Lee (Resonance) *Ada Ada (

) *Yoyo (

)

Accolades

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oku, Okechukwu Living people People from Anambra State Year of birth missing (living people) Nigerian film producers Nigerian musicians Nigerian cinematographers Nigerian music video directors Nigerian film directors Nigerian male musicians