Ibra Ake is a Nigerian-American artist. He has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, photographer, and creative director. He is best known for his work as a writer on the
FX show, Atlanta, and director on
Beyonce's visual album, Black is King. In 2019, he won a Grammy as a producer on
Childish Gambino's music video, "
This Is America".
Career
Photography
Ibra Ake started off as a portrait and fashion photographer, shooting for various
Condé Nast publications, beauty brands, and music acts.[1][2]
Childish Gambino
Through photography Ake met Donald Glover at a time when Glover was still a rising musician under the name Childish Gambino.[3] After becoming friends, they started to share ideas and Ake became Glover's creative director.[3] This collaboration led to countless other projects with Glover, as well as with the other members of the collective, Royalty - their creative group that was formed in 2012.[3] Ake has served as creative director for almost all of Childish Gambino's albums and tours.[4][5]
Atlanta
Ake has written numerous episodes for the first three seasons of the Emmy Award–winning series Atlanta.[6] He also directed an episode from season three, "
White Fashion," and has also guided the show's marketing outreach.[4][7]