Ibra Ake Explained
Ibra Ake is a Nigerian-American artist. He has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, photographer, and creative director. He is best known for his work as a writer on the FX show, Atlanta, and director on Beyonce's visual album, Black is King. In 2019, he won a Grammy as a producer on Childish Gambino's music video, "This Is America".
Career
Photography
Ibra Ake started off as a portrait and fashion photographer, shooting for various Condé Nast publications, beauty brands, and music acts.[1] [2]
Childish Gambino
Through photography Ake met Donald Glover at a time when Glover was still a rising musician under the name Childish Gambino.[3] After becoming friends, they started to share ideas and Ake became Glover's creative director. This collaboration led to countless other projects with Glover, as well as with the other members of the collective, Royalty - their creative group that was formed in 2012.[3] Ake has served as creative director for almost all of Childish Gambino's albums and tours.[4] [5]
Atlanta
Ake has written numerous episodes for the first three seasons of the Emmy Award–winning series Atlanta.[6] He also directed an episode from season three, "White Fashion," and has also guided the show's marketing outreach.[7]
Film
Ake was a producer on the short visual film, Guava Island that was shot in Cuba by Hiro Murai and starred Donald Glover, Rihanna, and Leticia Wright.[8] [9]
In 2020, he directed and consulted on Beyonce's visual album, Black is King, specifically the videos for "Brown Skin Girl", "Water," and "Keys to the Kingdom."[10] [11] [12]
Television
Ake wrote and directed an episode of the TV series, Swarm.
Other
Notable creative direction projects include: Tiwa Savage's 49-99;[13] Spotify's RapCaviar Pantheon;[14] Adidas, Donald Glover Presents;[15] Pause with Sam Jay;[16] Saturday Night Live; and Pharos.[17]
Awards
At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, Ibra Ake won a Grammy for Best Music Video, as a producer for Childish Gambino's viral and acclaimed music video for "This is America".[18] [19]
Family
Ibra Ake is the son of Claude Ake, a renowned Nigerian political scientist.[20]
Notes and References
- Web site: Hahn. Rachel. Behind the Scenes of Donald Glover and Rihanna's Guava Island. 2020-12-05. Vogue. en-us.
- Web site: 2013-08-30. Photos: Models Ink. 2021-08-18. Vogue. en-US.
- Web site: 2018-08-31. Ibra Ake Is On a Mission To Show African Creatives the Value of Ownership & Telling Honest Stories. 2021-08-18. OkayAfrica. en.
- Web site: 2016-09-08. Introducing Royalty, the Collective Behind 'Atlanta' and Childish Gambino. 2021-08-18. GQ. en-US.
- Web site: Miller. Hayley. 2018-05-09. 'This Is America' Producer Reveals New Details About Childish Gambino's Viral Video. 2021-08-18. HuffPost. en.
- Web site: Ibra Ake Atlanta screening and Q&A . 2020-12-05 . Cal State Monterey Bay . en .
- News: Perspective How ‘Atlanta’ tapped into social media to create an all-encompassing viewer experience. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-08-18. 0190-8286.
- Web site: 2019-04-13. Behind the Scenes of Donald Glover and Rihanna’s Guava Island. 2021-08-18. Vogue. en-US.
- Web site: Dry. Jude. 2019-07-04. ‘Guava Island’ Behind the Scenes Videos: Meet the Cuban Talent in Donald Glover’s Film. 2021-08-18. IndieWire. en.
- News: Sisario. Ben. 2020-07-30. Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’ Is No Secret, but Still Comes With Mystery. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-08-18. 0362-4331.
- Web site: Ibra Ake on the Importance of Showcasing African Excellence in Beyoncé‘s ‘Black Is King’. 2021-08-18. Complex. en.
- Web site: Adams. Sam. 2020-07-30. A Guide to the Directors of Beyoncé’s Black Is King. 2021-08-18. Slate Magazine. en.
- Web site: 2019-10-25.
- Watchlist: Meji Alabi On Directing Tiwa Savage's "49-99"
. 2021-08-18. Zikoko!. en-US.
- Web site: Cardi B, Jaden Smith, Juice WRLD and Gunna Inducted Into Spotify's 2019 RapCaviar Pantheon. 2021-08-18. Billboard. en.
- Web site: Donald Glover and adidas Originals officially launch Donald Glover Presents. 2021-08-18. news.adidas.com.
- Web site: Ibra Ake. 2021-08-18. IMDb.
- Web site: 2016-09-04. Childish Gambino Assaulted The Future With The "Pharos" Experience. 2021-08-18. Okayplayer. en-US.
- Web site: Jason Cole, Hiro Murai and Ibra Ake wins award at the 61st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
- Web site: Ibra Ake.
- Web site: Adams. Sam. 2020-07-30. A Guide to the Directors of Beyoncé's Black Is King. 2020-12-21. Slate Magazine. en.