OKHAI MOHAMMED ABDULLAHI. Hard work, Perseverence.

The toughest Cinematographer in Nigeria. Mohammed joined LEO STUDIOS in 1984 as a Camera Assistant where he trained to become a Camera Operator until 1987. In those days, Television contents in Nigeria were produced by the U-Matic Cameras before the arrival of the Beta Cam in the late 1990s. Before then, Mohammed met Jonathan Gbemuotor, the man who baked him to become a Director of Photography (DoP) known as his Master on the field.

Nigerian Contents' productions ran on little budgets by then. Most Producers could not afford many Crew so we were doing multiple jobs on set eg: a Camera Man was also the DoP at the same time. It was like this for other Departments and we worked under intense pressure. We lacked many basic things like professional gels, good tripods or tracks. Lenses were hard to get and expensive, yet we came out with many beautiful Productions and Documentaries for NTA and some Adverts for the Agencies. We moved on, always setting our minds on the future. Mohammed got his break through Director Reginald Ebere and was the DoP and Camera man in some of the biggest and most successful movies in Nigeria. From ORACLE, DOMITTILLA, ASHES TO ASHES, MORTAL INHERITANCE and many more. He has worked with top Directors like Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Lancelot Imaseun and Andy Amenechi. I met Andy Amenechi way back in Leo Studios in 1984 and quickly we became a team. Together we shot many TV Soaps, Movies and Documentaries. Andy Amenechi is the one we call the Big Daddy. He is a total Director. Nollywood moved up in technologies from the U-Matic camera to Beta Cam, DV Cam and especially with the introduction of modern digital cameras like the Black Magic. We also have Arri. HMI ligjts, Cranes and Drones are now deployed in Movie and TV productions here thanks to investors such as DSTV, IROKO TV, EBONY, and some Marketers. Mohammed Abdullahi, popularly called Captain Simba has not yet set his eyes on retirement as he still continues doing what he knows and loves doing best.