Adasa Cookey, whose full name is Adasa Rawlinson Cookeygam, is a renowned Nigerian music video director, cinematographer, commercial director, colourist, and filmmaker. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the visual aesthetics of the Nigerian music industry. As the founder and CEO of Squareball Media Productions Limited, established in 2010, Cookey has built a leading production company and record label representing artists like 1da Banton and Eli Jae.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Adasa Rawlinson Cookeygam |
| Date of Birth | October 21, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Rivers State (Opobo Kingdom) |
| Partner | Married |
| Occupations | Music video director, cinematographer, commercial director, colourist, filmmaker, CEO of Squareball Media Productions Limited |
| Net Worth | Approximately $325,000 USD |
Early Life and Education
Born on October 21, 1981, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, Adasa Cookey grew up in the city, with family roots tracing back to the Opobo Kingdom in Rivers State.
He attended primary and secondary schools in Port Harcourt, including Bereton College and Federal Government College.
For his tertiary education, Cookey studied Architecture at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree.
Despite his academic background in architecture, his passion leaned toward creative arts. To further develop his skills, he pursued film production studies at the New York Film Academy, specializing in Producing for Film and Television.
He also completed a course at Del-York Creative Academy under the guidance of Hollywood professionals, focusing on producing for film.
Career
Before embarking on his career in video directing, Cookey worked as a customer care representative at Ericsson/Airtel. However, driven by his passion for visual storytelling, he resigned from his corporate job on August 1, 2010, marking the official launch of Squareball Media Productions.
Cookey is largely self-educated in directing and cinematography. He has shared that he did not attend formal film school but instead relied on online tutorials, blogs, and personal experimentation to master his craft.
This dedication helped him quickly rise through the ranks of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
His career breakthrough came in 2012 with directing videos for hits such as Burna Boy’s “Like to Party,” D’Prince’s “Goody Bag,” and the Mavins’ “Adaobi.”
These projects established him as a leading director, earning him eight nominations at the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) in 2013.
Cookey has worked with a vast array of top Nigerian artists, including Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Simi, Adekunle Gold, Don Jazzy, Olamide, Yemi Alade, and many more.
Known for his creative vision and high production standards, he has helped elevate Nigerian music videos to international quality.
He believes that music video directors do not need to chase recognition, stating that their work is visible daily on screens, and their reputation grows through consistent quality.
Personal Life
Adasa Cookey is known to be calm and somewhat introverted. When he decided to leave a stable corporate job for a career in directing, his wife initially worried about their financial future but later became supportive as his career flourished.
Despite his success, Cookey prefers to maintain a low public profile, focusing on his work rather than personal fame.
Adasa Cookey Net Worth
Adasa Cookey’s estimated net worth is around ₦250,000,000 Nigerian Naira, which translates to approximately $325,000 USD.
He has built this wealth through his prolific career directing music videos, producing documentaries and feature films, as well as creating commercials and securing brand endorsements
Filmography
Selected Music Videos
- Burna Boy – “Like To Party” (2013)
- D’Prince – “Goody Bag” (2013)
- Mavins All Stars – “Adaobi” (2014)
- Adekunle Gold – “Sade” (2015)
- DJ Xclusive ft Davido – “Wo Le” (2015)
- Orezi – “Cooking Pot” (2017)
- Ric Hassani – “Only You” (2017)
- Simi – “Jericho” ft Patoranking (2019)
- Simi – “Duduke” (2020)
- Wande Coal ft Wale – “Again (Remix)” (2020)
- Stonebwoy ft Zlatan – “Critical” (2021)
- 1da Banton – “Ego” (2022)
Other Works
Cookey has also contributed as a colourist and director for films such as “Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons” (2018) and has produced various commercials and corporate documentaries.
Awards and Nominations
- AFRIMA Award (2017): Won Video of the Year for Orezi’s “Cooking Pot”
- Nigeria Music Video Awards (2016): Winner for Adekunle Gold’s “Ready”
- City People Entertainment Awards (2016): Nominated for Best Music Video Director
- AFRIMA (2019): Nominated for Simi ft Patoranking’s “Jericho”
- Soundcity MVP Awards (2020): Nominated for Simi ft Patoranking’s “Jericho”
- Galaxy Awards (2020): Winner
In 2020, Cookey was named among YNaija’s 50 Most Influential People in Music, recognizing his decade-long impact on the Nigerian music scene.
Adasa Cookey’s journey from a self-taught enthusiast to one of Africa’s most respected music video directors is a testament to his passion, dedication, and creative vision. His work continues to raise the bar for visual storytelling in African music and entertainment.
