Afropolitan
Afropolitan
Afropolitan
$80 To His Name: How He Became Davido’s Lead Director
1 hour 16 minutes Posted May 27, 2026 at 4:05 pm.
calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/
Intro
The biggest misconception about filmmakers
What a music video really costs
Why artists stopped shooting music videos
Can Afrobeats and film finally merge?
Knowing your value in the room
The come-up & the story no one knows
The Davido tour & his first music video
How video budgets exploded
Working with rival artists
The philosophies he lives by
Why he never left Nigeria
Visas, travel & the Nigerian passport
How he actually uses AI
AI videos, micro dramas & "give Nigeria 40 years"
Making timeless art
Convincing his parents to let go of the degree
When Rihanna knew his name
The real cost of "Call of My Life"
Nollywood's YouTube machine
Micro dramas: the future of distribution
Romance vs heartbreak: the films he carries
Have you ever been in love?
Rapid fire
The most underrated person in film
The video he's most proud of
The film era he loves
Where to watch "Call of My Life"
The meaning behind his name
Who he wants in the chair next
How films get into theaters
Wrap-up
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Show notes
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Dammy Twitch has directed music videos across 30+ countries, built his career from an unpaid behind-the-scenes role on a Nigerian TV show, and the night he met Rihanna outside Selfridges  she already knew his name. In this episode, he breaks down what it actually takes to build a creative career from nothing in Lagos, why the naira collapse changed the economics of Afrobeats visuals forever, and what his debut feature film Color of My Life cost him to make. We unpack why big-budget music video culture died in Nigeria, what a 10-minute scene at a Lagos restaurant actually costs a filmmaker, and why the directors who collaborate are the ones winning. Plus — AI micro dramas, the distribution problem no one has solved, and why he's still here while everyone else japa'd.
Dammy breaks down:
• Why the naira collapse killed the big-budget music video era
• What a 10-minute scene at a Lagos location actually costs
• How he got selected out of four videographers on Davido's tour
• Why he refuses to japa — and who he thinks should stay home
• The night Rihanna shouted his name outside Selfridges
• AI micro dramas and where Nigerian film is actually heading
• The real cost of making Color of My Life and getting it into cinemas
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WHERE TO FIND DAMMY TWITCH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dammytwitch
Twitter/X: https://x.com/dammytwitch
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