Nigerian Creative Director Ibra Ake Clinches Grammy Award

Nigeria was avid with jubilation when news filtered in that Ibro Ake had won a Grammy at the 2019 Grammy Awards held at Staples Centre on the 10th of February.

Ibro Ake, a Nigerian-American, is a writer and creative director based in California, United States. He won a Grammy for his role in the video of Childish Gambino’s “This is America”

Some music lovers back home were actually expecting Seun Kuti, another Nigerian, nominated in the “World Music” category, to go home with a Grammy. But Seun Kuti lost to Soweto Gospel Choir, a South African gospel band.

Ibra Ake’s win was unexpected but it was pleasant all the same, thanks to his (part-) Nigerian identity. Ibra Ake, who began his career in the entertainment world as a freelance photographer, has collaborated with Childish Gambino several times. Grammy success only came thanks to the visuals of “This is America.”

Ibra Ake would be the second Nigerian to win a Grammy, after Sikiru Adepoju won it in 2009.

“I can’t believe I just won a Grammy. Where’s the catch? Royalty forever,” Ibra Ake had tweeted after his Grammy win. He is most probably right.

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