They may not know the name ‘Praise Onyeagwalam’ but millions of people know her work. The 26-year-old Nigerian, who goes by the professional name Director Pink, has directed music videos for Wizkid, Naira Marley, Davido, Burna Boy and Mercy Chinuo.
Her video for Afrobeats star Chike and Morbad’s song “Egwu” has been viewed 160 million times on YouTube since it was posted two years ago, shortly after Morbad died at the age of 27.
“Movado was alive when I got this song,” Pink told CNN. “When he passed away, I wanted the video to honor him and focus on unity.” She won the 2025 Headies Award for Music of the Year for the work.
Pink studied economics at the University of Lagos before moving into film production. In 2021, after studying at the London Film Academy, the 22-year-old released Lady Koi Koi, a short horror film on YouTube, based on the urban legend of a vengeful ghost that haunts her school’s dormitory, the sound of her red high-heeled shoes roaming the hallways.
In addition to directing, Pink founded the production company Pinkline Films and currently designs his own sets, including the video for Yemi Allard’s 2024 single “Tomorrow.” This song earned Arad his first solo Grammy nomination in 2025.
Pink won the Best Music Video category at the 2023 All Africa Music Awards, and was nominated for Best Music Video at The Headies the same year for Chike & Oxlade’s “Spell (Remix)” video. But she says winning the Music Video of the Year award at Nigeria’s biggest music awards, the 2025 Headies, was a special moment. “This has opened the door for so many other women to realize that they really can do this,” she said.
In a male-dominated industry, she said others often assume her videos were created by men. Helping women enter the industry was one of her motivations for launching Pinkline Academy in 2023. The initiative will train young African creators in filmmaking and provide production skills and mentorship, while promoting access to female-led creative projects and the industry.
“I really want to resonate and empathize with women,” she said.
“There aren’t really young women in this field, especially in our age group. It made me really sad to see that and I thought, look, I really have to contribute. We really need to think about how we can create opportunities for the next generation of (women).”
“A lot of us were really relying on YouTube tutorials. Pinkline Academy is really producing the next generation of creatives across Africa.”
Already widely regarded as Africa’s most successful female music video director, Pink’s next step is to direct a film in Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry.
“I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and I have a film project coming up soon,” she said. “We have some in the works right now. It’s such a beautiful story and we can’t wait for the world to see it.”
