Apampa Owolabi Oluwadamilola, professionally known as Dammy Twitch, is one of Africa’s most sought-after music video directors since launching his career in 2017. At 30 years old, he’s already a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honoree who’s directed over 50 music videos for Nigeria’s biggest stars, from Davido to Burna Boy. He started as a teenage photographer shooting funerals in Ibadan and evolved into a thriving visual empire spanning music videos, films, brand campaigns, and international productions.
Dammy Twitch is consistently ranked among Nigeria’s top 5-10 music video directors, mentioned alongside industry heavyweights like TG Omori, Meji Alabi, and Patrick Elis.
Twitch is perhaps best known for directing Zlatan Ibile’s viral “Zanku” video that sparked a nationwide dance craze, alongside Davido’s record-breaking “FEM” which became the fastest Nigerian music video to hit 1 million YouTube views. These days, he runs two production companies, Polar Films and Kadiri Studios, working with global brands like Google, Coca-Cola, and even collaborating with Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.
Biography
Born on October 27, 1995, Dammy Twitch turns 31 in 2026. There’s been some confusion about his state of origin, but here’s the clarification: he was born and raised in Oluyole, Oyo State, though his parents originally hail from Ogun State. In Nigerian tradition, “state of origin” typically refers to ancestral heritage, which explains why both states are sometimes mentioned in his profiles.
Twitch spent his childhood in Oluyole before his family relocated to Lagos, where he currently resides. His educational journey took him through Redeemers Secondary School and TAIDOB College before he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Redeemer’s University. Interestingly, that’s the same university that produced comedian Mr. Macaroni, someone Twitch would later collaborate with on his 2023 short film debut.
He completed his National Youth Service Corps programme in December 2017, the exact same year he officially launched his professional directing career.
Career
Twitch’s creative journey began in 2013 when he was just 17. He started as a photographer, shooting events like weddings and burials after a chance encounter with a woman who admired his photo editing skills and connected him with paid opportunities. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it taught him the fundamentals.
By 2017, he’d transitioned into video editing, working as an apprentice under veteran director Director Q.
Twitch’s breakthrough came in 2017 with three significant projects. His very first music video was for Burna Boy, featuring on Yonda’s “Las Vegas Remix.” That same year, he shot Davido’s “Aje” in Senegal, a collaboration that would transform his entire career. Since that Senegal shoot, Twitch has served as Davido’s primary video director, creating an estimated 20+ videos for the Afrobeats superstar.
But the video that truly put him on the map came in January 2019: Zlatan Ibile’s “Zanku (Leg Work).” The video was all about the various Zanku dance moves and helped propel a viral dance craze that swept Nigeria and West Africa and gained over 1.1 million YouTube views.
The past six years have brought increasingly impressive accomplishments. In 2020, Twitch directed Davido’s “FEM,” which broke records by reaching 1 million YouTube views in just seven hours. The video eventually accumulated over 34 million views and became the unofficial anthem of the EndSARS protests.
That same year, his “Jowo” video for Davido took a more cinematic approach, featuring Nollywood icon Richard Mofe-Damijo in what felt like a short film rather than a regular music video. It garnered 24 million views within four months.
In 2022, Forbes Africa recognized his impact by naming him to their prestigious 30 Under 30 list in the creative and film category. The following year brought his directorial film debut with “I Hate It Here,” a powerful short film about domestic violence told from a child’s perspective. The Ibadan-set production starred Nse Ikpe-Etim and Mr. Macaroni.
Beyond his Davido partnership, Twitch has built an extensive videography. He’s worked with Omah Lay on hits like “Damn” and “With You,” created visually stunning pieces for Falz including “One Trouser” and “Gentleman,” and directed Simi’s Fela-inspired feminist anthem “Woman.” His portfolio extends to international artists like DaBaby, Yung Bleu, Musa Keys, and Angélique Kidjo.
He’s shot videos across multiple continents: at a French chateau in Paris for Davido’s “Na Money,” in Senegal for early Davido work, and in South Africa for the hit “Unavailable.”
Visual Style and Influences
Twitch’s work is different because of his commitment to narrative-driven storytelling rather than simple performance clips. Drawing inspiration from American director Dave Meyers, Canadian legend Director X, and Nigerian contemporary Meji Alabi, he adapts his visual vocabulary to match each song’s mood. This showed in how he depicted a dark urban desolation for Omah Lay’s emotionally volatile tracks and the luxurious high-definition imagery for celebration anthems.
Twitch’s career has expanded significantly beyond music videos. He serves as Davido’s official tour visual director, having worked on the 30 Billion Africa Tour, Timeless Tour in 2023, and currently the 5IVE Alive Tour supporting Davido’s latest album. In a 2025 Apple Music interview, he revealed he’s executive producing an upcoming movie and series with Davido, alongside work on a Davido documentary currently in production.
His production companies have also created commercial campaigns for major brands including Infinix, Google, Coca-Cola, Tecno Mobile, Nestle, Oppo, Bet9ja, and 1xBet.
The 2025 MOI Awards recognized this consistency by nominating him for Music Trailblazer of the Year. He however won The Future Awards Africa Prize For Film 2025.
Personal Life
Dammy Twitch remains unmarried with no children as of late 2025. He’s kept his romantic life private, with no public relationships announced. When he’s not behind the camera, he enjoys playing basketball, watching movies, and photography, his original creative passion.
A highlight of 2024 came at a Fenty event where Rihanna publicly declared herself “Dammy Twitch’s biggest fan.” Receiving recognition from a global superstar shows just how far he’s come.
He’s also developing a passion project inspired by Humans of New York: photographing everyday Nigerians from all walks of life to tell the story of the country and continent through pictures and captions.
Net Worth
Dammy Twitch’s net worth was estimated at $200,000 at around 2020. That figure has grown considerably over the past six years. Current estimates range from $350,000 to $500,000.
Music video directing remains his primary revenue source, but he’s also earning from commercial brand campaigns, film production, and tour visual work. The breadth of corporate clients he’s worked with, from Google and Coca-Cola to Sony Music, Warner Music, and Universal Music Group’s African operations, suggests significant commercial income.
He operates through two production companies, Polar Films and Kadiri Studios that allows him creative freedom whilst generating revenue from multiple channels. It’s worth noting that whilst he works on projects distributed through major record labels, he operates independently through his own companies rather than under exclusive label contracts.
