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 and Daniel K Daniel.
Early life Oku 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. He is of Igbo descent and hails from Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria. 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.
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 (Ada Ada) 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), and Black Rose (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 for Best Cinematography, as well as the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards 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) 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 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 Burning Bridges Ivie Okujaye, Ken Erics, Esther Audu Director Feature Film Bambitious Belinda Effah, Bucci Franklin, Daniel K Daniel, Ebele Okaro-Onyiuke Director, Cinematographer, Editor Feature Film, won multiple awards at the AAFMF 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 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 Film2016The Boss Is MineIme Bishop UmohDirector A Better Family Frederick Leonard, IK Ogbonna Director, DP, Editor Feature Film, released on YouTube 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 Jofran IK Ogbonna, Lisa Omorodion Producer, Director, DP, Editor Feature Film, Africa Magic Original Film Let's hit the Streets Alex Ekubo, IK Ogbonna Director, DP, Editor Feature Film 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 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 Sarah's Epiphany Daniella Okeke, Mike Ezuruonye, Anthony Monjaro Director Feature Film2018Black Rose Amaka Aneke, Chisom Asadu, Ngozi Ezeonu, Nancy IsimeDirectorDrama / Romance 2019 Levi Ramsey Nouah, Nancy Isime, Deyemi Okanlawon Director/Producer/Editor Feature Film202030 and SingleEmmanuella Iloba, Monica Friday, Amaka ChukwujekwuDirectorComedy / Romance
Music Videos Lee Lee (Resonance) Ada Ada (Flavour N'abania) Yoyo (Selebobo)
Accolades YearAwardCategoryFilmResult20132013 Golden Icons Academy Movie AwardsBest CinematographyBrother's Keeper20142014 Nollywood Movies AwardsBest EditingBrother's Keeper2015Afrifimo Awards and Film /Music FestivalBest Film DirectorBambitious2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA)Best Cinematographer for a Movie or TV SeriesRefugees2018 Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA)Best Film EditorBlack Rose
See also List of Nigerian film producers
References