2022 may have seen the official reintroduction of music, but it was also a big year for videos, movies, and television. From breathtaking set designs to sensational performances in videos by Nigerian music stars including Black Sherif, Burna Boy, Wizkd, Asake, Davido, and Kizz Daniels.
It’s difficult to predict what a mainstream music video will look like in 2022. Is it something that has a strong emotional impact on a larger audience? Does it claim technological futurism or does it merely take us somewhere else as an escape from the depressing state of our world?
The music that has emerged from the entire continent in 2022 has been well complemented by African music videos. The finest videos actually contain indications of each of these components.
Below, find noteworthy music videos that caught our attention over the year.
Black Sherif “Kwaku the Traveller”
Many people could categorize Black Sherif’s visual aesthetic as a gritty, hyper-realistic portrayal of street culture based on the limited sample size of his first year as a major celebrity. In order to portray the tensions of the burgeoning celebrity, the David Nicol-Sey-directed video for his 2022 hit, “Kwaku The Traveller,” departs from that visual aesthetic. As Blacko expertly explores the concept of atonement, each frame strives for visual perfection. The uncommon big-budget video “Kwaku The Traveller” portrays an artist at the ideal moment in their life, presenting them in a fresh way while expanding on the stories that first propelled them to success.
Blaqbonez “Back In Uni”
The lead single from Blaqbonez’s Young Preacher, “Back In Uni,” has a visual that takes imitation to art. The musician, who is known for being a brilliant marketer in Nigerian music, looped references to various times in popular culture into his self-directed film.
Burna Boy “Last Last”
Rema “Calm Down”
Rema‘s songs these days frequently deals with themes of sexual exploration, and “Calm Down” is no exception. However, if you look deeper, you’ll find that the Benin City native is really just repurposing his naive, romantic young self. DK’s “Calm Down” music video centers on the growing attraction between Rema and his girl in yellow as they first meet at a party at a dilapidated shack, make a hasty departure on a motorcycle, and then spend the rest of the evening getting to know each other over a game of snooker. This video has been streamed more than 250 million times because there is something about it that draws you into the heart of the whirlwind relationship Rema is dramatizing.
Fally Ipupa “Se Yo”
Asake “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)”
Diamond Platnumz “Mtasubiri” ft. Zuchu
