{{Short description|Nigerian music video director, writer and entrepreneur}} {{For|the Nigerian politician and businessman|Akinola Alabi}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox person | name = Akin Alabi | image = | image_size = | birth_date = | birth_place = Lagos State | years_active = 2005–present | occupation = Cinematographer, music video director | education = University of Ilorin }}
'''Akin Alabi''', {{Audio|Akin_Alabi.wav}}born in Lagos State, Nigeria, is a Nigerian music video director, writer and entrepreneur.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ayodele |first1=Oye |title=How To Be A Good Director, Songwriter-Akin Alabil |url=https://www.legit.ng/680875-exclusive-expert-speaks-takes-good-director-songwriter.html |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043104/https://www.legit.ng/680875-exclusive-expert-speaks-takes-good-director-songwriter.html |url-status=dead |newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> He is renowned as one of the video directors that pioneered the era of hiphop music video production in Nigeria<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Adewale |first1=Adedeji |title=Yoruba Culture & its Influence on the Development of Modern Popular Music in Nigeria |date=December 2010 |pages=290 |url=http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2257/1/Adedeji%2C_Adewale.pdf |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref> and has worked with several top artistes including 9ice, Timaya, Tope Alabi, Onyeka Onwenu, Reminisce, Tim Godfrey (musician), Ayanjesu, Paul Ik Dairo and many others.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Admin |title=About Akin Alabi |url=http://cinemakpatakpata.com/akin-alabi |website=Cinema Kpatakpata |accessdate=30 December 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Childhood and education== Alabi originally from Ekiti State started his educational journey at Lara Day Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja Lagos, and later obtained his Ordinary Level School Certificate from Federal Government College, Idoani, Ondo state.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ayodele |first1=Oye |title=How To Be A Good Director, Songwriter-Akin Alabil |url=https://www.legit.ng/680875-exclusive-expert-speaks-takes-good-director-songwriter.html |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043104/https://www.legit.ng/680875-exclusive-expert-speaks-takes-good-director-songwriter.html |url-status=dead |newspaper=Legit.ng}}</ref> Thereafter, he proceeded to University of Ilorin, Kwara State to study Business Administration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keetu |title=Top 10 Music Video Directors in Nigeria: Biographies & Their Charges |date=3 September 2016 |url=https://www.theinfofinder.com/top-10-music-video-directors-in-nigeria-biographies-their-charges/2/ |publisher=The Info Finder |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231092405/https://www.theinfofinder.com/top-10-music-video-directors-in-nigeria-biographies-their-charges/2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career== Alabi, who was into songwriting and graphic design during his university days, confessed during one of his interviews[6] that his passion for music prompted him to drop an album in 1999. Unfortunately, by the time Uzodinma Ukpechi (one of the major forces behind the camera then) gave him the bill, Alabi claimed to have resolved to acquire equipment with the money. His graphics and audio production knowledge served as a platform to explore his skills prompting,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kola |first1=Tijani |title=Music Video Director, Akin Alabi, Speaks – I don't like to please people |url=https://rhodiesworld.com/music-video-director-akin-alabi-speaks-i-dont-like-to-please-people/ |publisher=Rhodies World |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043036/https://rhodiesworld.com/music-video-director-akin-alabi-speaks-i-dont-like-to-please-people/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> which prompted him to drop an album in 1999. Unfortunately, by the time Uzodinma Ukpechi, (one of the major forces behind the camera then) gave him the bill, Alabi claimed to have resolved to acquire equipment with the money. His graphics and audio production knowledge served as a platform to explore his skill.<ref name=abt>{{cite web|title=Akin Alabi Biography|url=http://akinalabi.com/bio/|publisher=Akin Alabi|accessdate=30 December 2018}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
After he shot a musical video for one up and coming artiste called Nachur for Blac in the 2004, Akin came into fame in 2005 with the musical video of Big Bamo and Paul Play's song titled Crazy. Akin who is also a professional photographer, can now be ranked among the best music video and home video directors in Nigeria.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Admin |title=Akin Alabi |url=http://www.explode.com.ng/facilitators/akin-alabi/ |publisher=Explode.com |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043103/http://www.explode.com.ng/facilitators/akin-alabi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As an artiste, he formed a group with his wife called T.I.V<ref>{{cite web |last1=Onos |title=New Video: T.I.V – Vanity |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2013/04/new-video-t-i-v-vanity/ |website=Bella Naija |date=22 April 2013 |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref> that went on to release the hit single, Komole in 2012 which went on to win several awards including Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) for best use of choreography,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tyler |title=Winners List – The Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) 2014 |url=http://tooxclusive.com/editorial/winners-list-nigeria-music-video-awards-nmva-2014/ |website=Too Exclusive |date=27 November 2014 |accessdate=15 February 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215102810/http://tooxclusive.com/editorial/winners-list-nigeria-music-video-awards-nmva-2014/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nominee for Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) under the Best Gospel Video category.
His collections of video works include Konga's hit track titled Kabakaba, Komole by TIV ft Vector, ‘Gbamugbamu’ and ‘No be Mistake’ by 9ice; ‘Yankuliya,’ ‘God I beg,’ ‘If to Say’ by Timaya; ‘Promise Land’ by Paul Play; ‘Crazy’ by Julius Agwu; ‘Ariya’ by Ayuba; ‘Bu nwanem’ by Onyeka Onwenu; ‘Kabakaba’ by Konga; RCCG Praise Team album video; ‘Igboro Ti Daru’ by Klever J.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kola |first1=Tijani |title=Music Video Director, Akin Alabi, Speaks – I don't like to please people |url=https://rhodiesworld.com/music-video-director-akin-alabi-speaks-i-dont-like-to-please-people/ |publisher=Rhodies World |accessdate=30 December 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231043036/https://rhodiesworld.com/music-video-director-akin-alabi-speaks-i-dont-like-to-please-people/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He is the creator of the animation TV series on Nigerian proverbs called My Nigerian Proverb shows daily on African Magic,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Admin |title=TV GUIDE |url=https://africamagic.dstv.com/channel/africa-magic-yoruba |website=Africa Magic |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref> Trybetv, YangaTv (UK) and on BRT Buses in Lagos. In 2018, he release a book on Yoruba Proverbs titled Akomolowe: My Book of Yoruba Proverbs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Admin |title=Akomolewe |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRfvJwqnikA |via=YouTube |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref> He is passionate about the African culture and he is currently working on using the visual media to conserve the Yoruba culture in particular. He has many awards to his name including the 2012 City People award for Best Video Director, TAVA award for Best Video director and Best RnB video.
==Personal life== Alabi married Bunmi Alabi in 2008 and together they have two sons and reside in Lagos Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Admin |title=It took time before my wife and I understood each other – Akin Alabi |url=https://punchng.com/took-time-wife-understood-akin-alabi/ |newspaper=The Punch|date=8 October 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alabi, Akin}} Category:People from Ekiti State Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Nigerian cinematographers Category:Nigerian music video directors Category:Nigerian documentary filmmakers Category:Nigerian music industry executives Category:Federal Government College Idoani alumni Category:University of Ilorin alumni Category:Nigerian film producers