As far as Nollywood is concerned, there’s a growing number of directors who have consistently returned to the same cinematographers, forming creative partnerships that result in more cohesive, visually distinctive films.
By Joseph Jonathan
One of the most crucial forces that shapes how stories are seen in films is the collaboration between directors and cinematographers. A director may craft the vision, but it’s the cinematographer who gives it shape, light, and depth. Together, they translate scripts into sights, emotions into images, and movement into meaning. These creative partnerships form the visual backbone of film, determining the style, tone, and mood of every shot.
As far as Nollywood is concerned, there’s a growing number of directors who have consistently returned to the same cinematographers, forming creative partnerships that result in more cohesive, visually distinctive films. Whether it’s the painterly mood of a historical epic, the slick visuals of a modern romantic drama, or the gritty realism of political thrillers, these cinematographer-director duos continue to shape the aesthetic of Nigerian cinema today.
In this listicle, Afrocritik spotlights 20 of Nollywood’s prolific cinematographer-director duos, each with at least three shared projects, plus a few honourable mentions.
Fadamana Okwong & Taiwo Egunjobi
In Ibadan (2021), Crushed Roses (2022), A Green Fever (2023), The Fire and The Moth (2025).
Okwong’s precise, grounded compositions perfectly complement Egunjobi’s methodical and sometimes weighty storytelling. Their choice of visuals usually leans into mood and restraint, turning everyday spaces into vessels of tension and unspoken drama.
Idowu Adedapo & Adebayo Tijjani
King of Thieves (2022), Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper (2022), Beast of Two Worlds (2024), Alakada: Bad and Boujee (2024).
Having built a reputation for blending spiritual themes with sharp spectacle, Adedapo and Tijjani bring cultural epics and genre-bending stories to life with dynamic camerawork and glowing visuals.
Barnabas Emordi & Akay Mason
Elevator Baby (2019), Day of Destiny (2021), Superstar (2021), Ada Omo Daddy (2023).
Barnabas Emordi and Akay Mason specialise in glossy urban tales filled with energy, colour, and emotional warmth. Their work shows how genre filmmaking can be both stylish and heartfelt.
Barnabas Emordi & Niyi Akinmolayan
Prophetess (2021), Palava! (2022), The House of Secrets (2023), Lisabi: The Uprising (2024)
This duo creates cinema that’s equally grounded and grand, whether tackling drama, musical comedy, or historical epic; their visual storytelling is both elegant and immersive.
Barnabas Emordi & Michael Akinrogunde
My Mfon – An Election Day Story (2019), Ricordi (2021), Things That Broke Us (2021), There Is Something Wrong with the Bamideles (2021), The Ghost and the Tout Too (2021), Love Notes (2024).
Their frequent collaborations span everything from supernatural drama to emotional slice-of-life tales. Emordi’s eye for symmetry and texture complements Akinrogunde’s narrative experimentation.
Nora Awolowo & Lota Chukwu
Small Bant (2020), David (2021), 1K (2024).
While this duo has worked on more short films than features, Awolowo still brings a documentary sharpness and stylistic experimentation to Chukwu’s reflective stories, resulting in films that feel real, raw, and resonant.
John L. Demps Jr. & Omoni Oboli
Being Mrs Elliot (2014), The First Lady (2015), Wives on Strike (2016).
With roots in Hollywood, Demps Jr. lends polish and compositional strength to Oboli’s character-driven narratives, making her comedies and dramas pop visually.
Muhammad Atta Ahmed & Tolu Ajayi
Oga John (2018), Training Day (2020), Focus (2021), Whispers in the Wires (2025).
This duo thrives in the short film and experimental space, where Atta Ahmed’s lighting wizardry pairs with Ajayi’s poetic direction to create bold, layered frames.
Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe & Tope Oshin
The Young Smoker (2011), Till Death Do Us Part (2012), Journey to Self (2012), Love and War (2013), Ìrètí (2016), In Line (2017), Shuga (2019).
Adejuyigbe is one of the industry’s top cinematographers, and his long-running partnership with Oshin is a masterclass in visual storytelling rooted in character, emotion, and atmosphere.
Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe & Kunle Afolayan
The Bridge (2017), Mokalik (2019), Tenant of the House (2019).
Their films are moody, richly textured, and often cinematic explorations of tradition, politics, and power. Nodash brings an auteur’s eye to Afolayan’s socio-political storytelling.
Ola Cardoso & Bodunrin Sasore
Before 30 (2015), Banana Island Ghost (2017), God Calling (2018), Breath of Life (2023).
Cardoso’s use of natural light and soft tones complements Sasore’s soulful, introspective filmmaking. Breath of Life is the culmination of their visually tender partnership, earning Cardoso a nomination for Best Cinematography and getting Sasore a Best Director win at the 2024 AMVCA.
Yinka Edward & Kunle Afolayan
The Figurine (2009), Phone Swap (2012), October 1 (2014), Roti (2017).
This pairing defined a generation of contemporary Nollywood. Edward’s cinematography, full of grandeur and nuance, helped shape Afolayan’s early auteur legacy, with many of their films getting critical acclaim.
Wale Adebayo & Desmond Elliot
Jon Ajai (2017), Ordinary People (2017), Naomi’s Dilemma (2017), Disguise (2018), Orunsewa (2018), Once Upon an Adventure (2018), Ire’s Ire (2018), Four Wives and a Mistress (2019), Love Tangled (2021), It’s Complicated (2021).
Adebayo and Elliot form one of the most prolific collaborations on this list, and for good reason. Their films lean into melodrama, colourful aesthetics, and crowd-pleasing narratives.
Jonathan Kovel & Kunle Afolayan
Citation (2020), Swallow (2021), A Naija Christmas (2021), Anikulapo (2022).
South African cinematographer, Kovel, is no stranger to Nollywood, having worked with a number of directors. However, he has formed quite a partnership with Afolayan. Kovel’s crisp, painterly visuals elevate Afolayan’s later work. Their collaboration has yielded both intimate moments and sweeping spectacle, especially in Anikulapo.
Ifeme Chidiebere Samuel & Kayode Kasum
Road to Spotlight (2022), Obara’m (2022), All’s Fair in Love (2024).
Samuel brings pop and colour to Kasum’s storytelling, especially in music-driven or romantic narratives. Together, they bring joy and rhythm to the screen.
Emmanuel Igbekele & Biodun Stephen
Sobi’s Mystic (2017), Tough Love (2018), Seven and a Half Dates (2018), Joba (2019), Hell Cat (2019), Truth (2019), Looking for Baami (2019), Mother Love (2019), Reach (2020), Introducing the Kujus (2020), Miz Behaviour (2020), Breaded Life (2021), Hope Springs Eternal (2021), Love Unusual (2021), Chaos Calling (2023).
Biodun Stephen is arguably Nollywood’s most prolific director at the moment, and she has had to rely on Igbekeleʼs visuals for most of her projects. Igbekele and Stephen consistently deliver grounded, emotionally resonant stories. His cinematography is warm, accessible, and story-first.
Emmanuel Igbekele & Kayode Kasum
Ponzi (2021), Dwindle (2021), Soólè (2021), Roles Reversed (2022), Hidden Figure (2023), Afamefuna (2023), Ajosepo (2024).
With Kasum, Igbekele switches gears to playful and high-energy visuals. Their films sparkle with movement and youth, full of crisp lighting and clean colour palettes.
Idhebor Kagho & Udoka Oyeka
Living Funeral (2013), No Good Turn (2016), Las Gidi Vice (2018), Three Thieves (2019), Price of Admission (2020), The Razz Guy (2021).
This duo merges stylised flair with gritty realism. Their visuals range from noir-inspired to slick commercial comedy, often unified by a strong narrative sense.
Chris Uche Okere & Biodun Stephen
Ehi’s Bitters (2018), Binta Kolonko (2018), Square Peg (2019), Half Measure (2020).
Okere’s sensitive visual style helps amplify Stephen’s emotionally complex stories. Together, they shine a light on marginalised voices with grace and care.
Chris Uche Okere & Daniel Oriahi
One Last Kiss (2019), Package Deal (2019), My Name Is A-Zed (2020), Mine (2020), Hit and Run (2021), The Femi-nist (2022).
Oriahi’s love of psychological and genre storytelling meets Okere’s atmospheric cinematography in this under-the-radar but potent collaboration.
Honourable Mentions
- Idowu Adedapo & Tope Adebayo – King of Thieves (2022), Inside Life (2022)
- Yinka Edward & Izu Ojukwu – Alero’s Symphony (2011), ’76 (2016)
- Wale Adebayo & Austin Nwaolie – Emem and Angie (2017), Tomorrow Can Wait (2018)
- Emmanuel Igbekele & Adeoluwa Owu – Adire (2023), Queen Lateefah (2024)
- Idhebor Kagho & Daniel Oriahi – Sylvia (2018), The Weekend (2024)
- Chidiebere Oluwasola & Daniel Oriahi – False Doors (2021), When Perfect Feels Wrong (2022)
Joseph Jonathan is a historian who seeks to understand how film shapes our cultural identity as a people. He believes that history is more about the future than the past. When he’s not writing about film, you can catch him listening to music or discussing politics. He tweets @JosieJp3.