Behind Every Viral Ebuka Look Is Oladayo Odunaro’s Vision

The Eye Behind the Lens: How Oladayo Odunaro Shaped Nigeria’s Visual Culture Through Ebuka’s Iconic Looks

If you’ve ever paused mid-scroll at one of Ebuka Obi-Uchendu’s Big Brother Naija looks the ones that crash timelines and fuel yearlong fashion debates you’ve already encountered the artistry of Oladayo Odunaro. Through his lens, Nigerian celebrity culture has found its sharpest reflection: elegant, confident, and unmistakably ours.

Oladayo is the man behind the camera translating confidence into composition and clothing into cultural statement. Over the past five years, his work has helped define what modern Nigerian style looks like.

“I had just finished working on Banky W’s 2019 election campaign,” he recalls. “That’s how I got connected to Ebuka through Captain Tunde Demuren. From that first shoot, I’ve created about 90 to 95 percent of his visual content not just photos, but the entire visual story. What made it click was our shared work ethic.”

That synergy became the foundation of a creative partnership that has outlasted trends. Each Big Brother Naija season brings a new visual challenge a fresh mood, a new concept but the trust between both men remains constant. “The BBN looks are sophisticated. We’re essentially flexing African fashion muscle,” Oladayo says. “My role is to represent that in the best light no pun intended. My approach is usually minimalistic: clean compositions where Ebuka and the fashion piece stand out.”

Over time, that simplicity became their visual signature: minimalist photography meets larger-than-life fashion. But for Oladayo, minimalism isn’t about restraint it’s about reverence. Every shadow, colour choice, and composition carries intention. His images don’t just display clothes; they capture presence and over time, that presence has grown into influence.

“It’s humbling knowing how the work travels through culture,” he says. “What Ebuka wears for the show becomes the trend for the year. Knowing our work moves the needle like that it’s not something I take lightly.”

Still, what makes his visuals resonate most is their humanity. There’s no ego in his process just precision and respect for the craft. Each frame is a collaboration: designers, stylists, lighting crews, and, crucially, Ebuka himself. “A lot of people don’t know Ebuka is actually his own stylist,” he explains. “He works with designers to bring the looks to life, and then it’s over to me to present a befitting visual to the world.”

That mutual trust has opened space for creative freedom. “Ebuka trusts my vision completely. When I suggest an idea, there’s rarely any second-guessing. We just move straight to production.”

For all his composure, Oladayo’s fascination with his craft still shines through. He lights up when the conversation turns to colour, light, and skin tone. “I’m fascinated by how light and colour interact,” he says. “My visual language is highly influenced by my experiences. I’m obsessed with how those interactions work with my subjects. I also draw from movies and TV I try to recreate what I see in my work.”

But Oladayo’s artistry goes far beyond fashion. He’s also a director, producer, and visual storyteller who’s worked across documentaries, commercials, and TV since 2012. “If someone only knew me through my Ebuka photos,” he admits, “they’d only be seeing one side. I’ve always been multifaceted directing, producing, telling stories. There’s a whole world of content I’ve put out beyond fashion photography.”

Balancing art and commerce, he says, is part of the job. “I’m lucky the balance exists seamlessly. My commercial work allows me to express my artistic side. I’m contracted to bring artistic and creative expressions to commercial work that satisfies both the client and my own artistic vision.”

Still, beneath the glossy imagery lies a frustration many Nigerian creatives share: the lack of structure and fair compensation. “We need to set standards for our pricing,” he says firmly. “For the world-class work Nigerian creatives produce, we’re severely underpaid. It’s not something one person can fix we need unions to set standards.”

When he looks ahead, his vision widens beyond fashion, beyond celebrity, beyond the six-inch glow of social media. “In the next decade,” he says softly, “I want to be responsible for creating the image of world leaders, telling life-changing stories for individuals and brands.”

It’s a fitting ambition for someone who has already shaped how an entire generation sees fame and fashion. Through his lens, Oladayo Odunaro hasn’t just captured style he’s defined a visual language for Nigerian confidence: bold, precise, and impossibly stylish.