Tosin Clegg
If you’ve watched a Nigerian music video in the past decade, chances are you’ve witnessed the genius of Adebayo Emmanuel Fakiyesi better known in the creative world as The Alien.
A celebrated Filmaker, Editor and Creative, The Alien is the visual architect behind some of the most iconic imagery in Afrobeats. His instinct for framing emotion, rhythm, and storytelling has placed him in high demand among Africa’s biggest music stars.
With a career that spans nearly a decade, Adebayo has worked with some of the continent’s most celebrated names including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Teni, Buju, Kizz Daniel, Mohbad, and Odumodublvck.
“I edited almost any big music video you know from around 2016 to 2019,” he reveals.
“From Wizkid’s ‘Soco’ to Burna Boy’s ‘Ye’ and DJ Enimoney’s ‘Diet,’ I’ve been involved in building a lot of what people consider modern Afrobeats visuals.”
But his contribution didn’t stop with editing it evolved into directing some of the genre’s most compelling videos. Among The Alien’s most notable directorial achievements is an impressive portfolio of music videos that have shaped the visual identity of some of Afrobeats’ biggest hits. His standout credits include Twalabam Remix by Burna Boy, TitoM & Yuppe, Lie and Pour Me Water by Kizz Daniel, Pity This Boy by Odumodublvck featuring Victony, and Ask About Me by the late Mohbad. He also directed Kilometer Remix by Buju and Zinoleesky, Moslado by Teni, Mandeman by Smalldoctor featuring Davido, and So Lovely by Buju. With each project, The Alien continues to push creative boundaries, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most visionary directors in the industry.Each release showcases The Alien’s signature blend of raw street authenticity and cinematic elegance. His visuals don’t just follow the music they amplify it. Whether it’s the pulsating energy of a remix or the emotional weight of a street ballad, he ensures the visuals are as memorable as the melody.
Unlike many directors, The Alien is also a seasoned editor and creative director, giving him a rare, multidimensional grip on pacing, storytelling, and emotion. “Every artist has their own world,” he says. “I just try to step into that world and find the best way to translate their message visually.”
It’s this immersive mindset that makes his work not just stylish, but deeply human. Beyond the screen, his creative direction plays a pivotal role in shaping the identity of artists and brands helping develop the next generation of superstars, and co-producing the rise of tomorrow’s most promising creatives.
Today, as Afrobeats becomes a global phenomenon, Adebayo Emmanuel Fakiyesi remains one of its most influential behind-the-scenes figures. His ability to merge African culture with global visual language has helped define how the world sees the genre not just hears it.
Whether it’s a club hit, a street anthem, or a soulful ballad, when The Alien is involved, audiences don’t just watch, they feel. While he’s currently working on building an empire in the creative industry, the Alien visuals productions and a 360 creative agency ‘Mayhemcre8tives’. He isn’t just directing music videos. He’s documenting the culture and shaping the future one frame, one artist, one story at a time.
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