10 best Nigerian music videos of the year

Some featured turnup of the highest caliber; others mixed emotions with pleasure. Others simply took us to the conscious realm, passing across messages that are greater than all of us. All of it simply shows that, there is no one way to blow our minds with videos.

Orezi doesn’t interest you so much as a celebrity, but somehow he continues to find new ways to pull you into his art. The video for ‘Cooking pot’ isn’t just a visual with pots and pans. Instead, Orezi goes bigger as a reincarnation of Fela Kuti himself.

When Davido and DAPS linkup, there’s always something special around the corner. Daps directs a beautiful minimalist video that takes advantage of lights and colors with a sweet car, hot girls and high fashion.

One of the best uses of the New Afrika Shrine, Tiwa Savage and Wizkid, come under the skill of Meji Alabi, who transforms the location and the stars into a Caribbean party. The pair bring their charisma to a head, backed by progressive story of love.

We can look at Runtown’s ‘Mad over you’ as a great visual marrying music and fashion. But to get the full package, you have to dive into this video of Humblesmith, where he brings together beautiful women and cars, mixes them up with colours and style to create a breath-taking spectacle.

This video has racked over 50 million views on Yotube with its its clean visuals, Afro-centric minimalism and celebration of African beauty. Daps was the director of the extremely wavy video that is now Wizkid's biggest push into mainstream America. Although Drake failed to turn up for the recording, it really didn’t matter. Wizkid has done it all.

Simi already knows the art of visualising your records. But this time, she outdid herself with her ‘shots’ on ‘Joromi’. The singer plays the role of a girl in love, and she finds interesting way to shoot her shots until her love interest takes note. From solid acting to comedic infusion, everything feels right here.

Clarence Peters pushed Niniola past her comfort zone for ‘Sicker’. With a play on colours, over 10 scenes, costume and set designs, Niniola goes for pure imagery on the record which has become a speculative hit in Nigeria. Niniola wraps herself with bright colours, dances to the edge of sanity, and assumes a new personality for every scene.

“Give happiness a chance…” Seyi Shay sings in this bright and uplifting record about the simplicity of life. Nothing else matters here except the pursuit of joy, beauty and life’s simple pleasures. Seyi Shay applies all the bright colours, the sun, and the ambience of happy relaxation to convey the message that we all only live once. Why not enjoy the ride?

Street is in session on Olamide’s ‘Wo’ video. The YBNL rapper took the shirt trip to his hood in Bariga for the record which has been such a blessing to him in 2017. Partnering with Unlimited L:A, Olamide re-introduces us to life in the streets, with partying, dances, and wanton consumption being the order of the day.

A conscious effort from 2face Idibia, ‘Holy holy’ is a symbolic of something the Nigerian society has tried unsuccessfully to deal with: judgement. It’s a behaviour that is present in every demography, profession, religion, education and more. 2face via compelling images advocates for inclusion and acceptance. It’s a moving piece, this one.