Sien Essien has always been a restless creative and storyteller with special interests in audio and visual forms. As a creative director, he has worked with Nigerian entertainers such as Olamide, Odumodublvck, CKay, Sabinus and Tariq. But now, he is broadening his focus, with the recent release of his short film Make I No Die For Ikotun on his YouTube channel named “sien” marking an official induction into the world of filmmaking. The short film briefly captures the life of being a creative in Ikotun, a suburb in the Alimosho local government area in Lagos, Nigeria.
The short film reveals the lone persona in his apartment where he expresses frustration about his living and work conditions and hopes to leave the “trenches” some day. He discovers that his laptop, with which he attempts to work, is critically low on battery power. Electric power is restored as he laments, but his momentary happiness is cut short when the power goes out again.
Like many places in the city of Lagos, Ikotun is populated with working class people that are always on the quest for survival as they go about their daily activities. The place is known for its commercial activities and growing infrastructure, while its inhabitants face problems and challenges that are also applicable to other parts of the country. Creatives like Sien Essien are equally affected by challenges like poor power supply and access to necessities of existence. “That’s literally how I live by every day,” said Essien, commenting on the inspiration behind the short film. “I grew up in Ikotun and currently live there. Cost of transport is on the rise, and things that will make work easier are not easily accessible.”
Growing up, Essien discovered his creative interests through a series of playful activities he indulged in as a child. “While in SS1, I took a friend’s camera to school with which I took some shots despite being unable to handle it professionally,” Essien recounted. “My mates were impressed and were even willing to use the little money they had to pay me for their photos.” At age 15, he began downloading several YouTube videos and courses to learn how to handle the camera. In 2020, Essien left Lagos for Uyo after gaining admission to study Computer Science at the University of Uyo. However, he dropped out of the institution in 2023—taking the chance to return to Lagos to fully chase his dreams in the creative industry.
“I love videos because they just feel more connected with the soul”, Essien said in defence of the new path of filmmaking he is taking. He corroborated this with a personal example: “I did a course on neuro-marketing in 2022-2023, during which I studied cognitive biases particularly how the human brain reacts to lighting, sounds, and the rest.”
Essien has previously collaborated with other creatives on music projects like Smur Lee’s Juju ft. Odumodublvck and Shallipopi and TAR1Q’s Okada Airlines—his style hinges on effective storytelling with a filmic feel.
Essien’s film Make I No Die For Ikotun is an expression of individualism, a quick, personal statement on the obstacles to a successful creative expedition. It signals an interesting, unique point in the creative’s career as he evolves and seeks more latitude in the robust and effervescent Nigerian entertainment industry.
