Perliks, born Abdulrasaq Adebayo Babalola, is a Nigerian music video director known for Afrobeats visuals. Discover his real name, age, career, net worth, and rise to fame.
Perliks is one of Nigeria’s most exciting music video directors, quietly reshaping how Afrobeats is experienced visually around the world. Born Abdulrasaq Adebayo Babalola, he has built a reputation for bold visual storytelling, emotionally driven concepts, and an artistic philosophy that keeps the spotlight firmly on the artist. His work for names like Rema, Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Blaqbonez, and Burna Boy has made him a sought-after creative force in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
What makes Perliks stand out is his belief that a music video is “95% about the artist and only 5% about the director.” That selfless approach has earned him deep trust from musicians and their teams — and has produced visuals that feel authentic rather than director-led. From humble beginnings in Lagos to a Headies Award nomination, his journey is one of patience, craft, and creative conviction.
Quick Facts About Perliks
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | Abdulrasaq Adebayo Babalola |
| Professional name | Perliks / Perliks Definition |
| Born | 1998, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Age (2026) | 28 years old |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | Yoruba |
| Profession | Music video director, filmmaker, photographer |
| Production company | Nouvelle Films (co-founded with Femi Dapson) |
| Father | Tajudeen Babalola Ojora (Telemoon) |
| Net worth (2026) | Estimated $98,000–$158,000 |
| Famous for | Blaqbonez “Back in Uni”, Headies nomination, Afrobeats visuals |
Early Life and Family Background
Perliks was born Abdulrasaq Adebayo Babalola in 1998 in Lagos State, Nigeria. He grew up in a creative household shaped by his father, Tajudeen Babalola Ojora — widely known in the industry as Telemoon — a veteran music video director who made his name in the Fuji music scene, working with legendary Fuji musicians across his career. Growing up around cameras, sets, and the language of visual storytelling gave Perliks a natural foundation few young directors can claim.
Despite that early exposure, Perliks did not immediately set his sights on filmmaking. As a child, he reportedly had other professional ambitions, and it was only gradually — through direct involvement in his father’s work and his own growing curiosity about photography — that the pull toward visual direction became clear. He is of Yoruba heritage, one of Nigeria’s largest and most culturally influential ethnic groups, and that cultural richness visibly informs the texture and colour sensibility of his work.
Determined to build his reputation on his own terms rather than through his father’s name, Perliks approached his career as an independent creative — a decision that has defined how seriously the industry takes him today.
Career Beginnings and the emPawa Breakthrough
Perliks began his professional journey around the age of 17, initially assisting on music video shoots and developing his eye for photography. His real career acceleration, however, came through a friendship group in Egbeda, Lagos, that would eventually change the course of Nigerian music video production. Living and hustling alongside filmmaker Femi Dapson and recording artist Macjreyz — who was signed to Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa programme — Perliks found his first major opportunity when Macjreyz secured funding to shoot a music video for his single “Money Anthem.”
Perliks stepped up to direct the visuals. Femi Dapson, then with little production experience, handled the production side. Their total budget was a fraction of what Nigerian music videos typically require, yet the result demonstrated that ambition and creativity could compensate for limited resources. That early collaboration — built on trust, shared vision, and a willingness to operate at a financial loss — planted the seed for what would become Nouvelle Films.
Nouvelle Films: Building a Creative Empire with Femi Dapson
The partnership between Perliks and Femi Dapson formalised into Nouvelle Films, a Lagos-based production company that has since grown into one of Nigeria’s most respected music video outfits. Within Nouvelle Films, the two operate with a clear division: Perliks focuses on artistic direction, visual concepts, and creative vision, while Dapson manages technical precision and production logistics. The complementary dynamic has allowed them to scale quickly without sacrificing quality.
Through Nouvelle Films, they have produced visuals for some of the biggest names in Afrobeats — including Burna Boy, Rema, Kizz Daniel, Adekunle Gold, Shallipopi, Seyi Vibez, BNXN, and Young Jonn, among many others. The company has also attracted commercial work from major brands, reflecting the growing crossover between Afrobeats’ global reach and mainstream advertising.
The Perliks–Dapson duo has become one of the most recognisable creative partnerships in Nigerian entertainment, frequently appearing together in interviews and media features that chronicle their rise from Egbeda to the top of the industry.
Notable Works and Headies Nomination
Perliks has directed a string of music videos that have resonated strongly with Nigerian audiences and the broader Afrobeats global fanbase. Among his most celebrated works is the visual for Blaqbonez’s “Back in Uni” — a technically impressive, meticulously detailed production that recreated major moments from Nigerian music history. The video earned a Headies Award nomination for Best Music Video, placing Perliks in the same conversation as the most established directors in the country.
Other notable projects include his work on “Gwagwalada” by BNXN featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez (2023), as well as visuals for Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, and Rema — all artists whose global profiles make those commissions a significant mark of industry trust. His visual style draws on strong colour grading, conceptual set design, and an instinct for translating a song’s emotional core into imagery. Notably, he has also explored art activism through projects like “Plastic Angel,” which used unconventional materials — including environmental waste — to highlight the dangers of plastic pollution, earning him the informal nickname “The Craziest Photographer from Africa.”
In 2025, his Headies nomination for Music Video of the Year marked a formal recognition of what the industry had already informally acknowledged: Perliks is among Nigeria’s most capable and distinctive directors working today. He was also listed among the Top 13 Nigerian Music Video Directors alongside veterans who have shaped the industry for decades.
Personal Life
Perliks keeps his personal life largely private. He has not publicly confirmed a relationship or marital status, and most of his public profile is tied directly to his work and his creative partnership with Femi Dapson. The two have described their bond as more than professional — built on years of shared struggle, creative risk-taking, and a genuine friendship forged during their early days hustling together in Egbeda, Lagos.
His Instagram handle, @perliksdefinition, has grown to over 195,000 followers, where he shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of his work, personal photography, and occasional personal moments. His social media presence is consistent with his professional philosophy — focused, visual, and always centred more on the work than on personal celebrity.
Net Worth
As of 2026, Perliks’ net worth is estimated at between $98,000 and $158,000, reflecting his earnings from music video direction, photography commissions, commercial projects through Nouvelle Films, and brand partnerships. While those figures are modest compared to global entertainment standards, they represent significant achievement for an independent creative filmmaker in Nigeria’s market, and his trajectory suggests continued upward growth as Afrobeats’ global footprint expands.
Legacy and Industry Impact
At just 28, Perliks is already part of a generation reshaping how African music is consumed globally. As Afrobeats continues to cross over into mainstream markets in Europe, North America, and beyond, the directors behind its most compelling visuals are gaining overdue recognition. Perliks represents a new breed of Nigerian filmmaker — one who blends artistic independence with commercial relevance and uses the medium of music video as genuine storytelling rather than mere promotion.
His insistence on letting the artist lead, combined with a bold visual instinct developed from childhood, has produced a body of work that speaks for itself. The Headies nomination was a milestone, but by most indications, it is an early chapter rather than a peak.
Final Thoughts
Perliks’ journey from the son of a Fuji music video director in Lagos to a Headies-nominated filmmaker is a story built on deliberate craft rather than overnight visibility. He chose to earn his reputation independently, developed his voice through genuine creative risk, and built one of Nigeria’s most productive filmmaking partnerships along the way. Every video he directs reflects a consistent philosophy: the music and the artist come first.
In a creative industry that increasingly rewards personality over substance, Perliks has done the quieter, harder thing — let the work speak. At 28, with Afrobeats still in its global ascendancy, he is well positioned to become one of the defining visual architects of the genre’s next chapter.
People Also Ask
What is Perliks’ real name?
Perliks’ real name is Abdulrasaq Adebayo Babalola. He adopted the professional name Perliks — also used as “Perliks Definition” on social media — as his creative brand identity in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Who is Perliks’ father?
His father is Tajudeen Babalola Ojora, popularly known as Telemoon — a veteran Nigerian music video director who built his career directing visuals for Fuji music artists. Perliks has credited his father’s work as an early influence, though he deliberately built his own career independently.
What is Nouvelle Films?
Nouvelle Films is a Lagos-based production company co-founded by Perliks and filmmaker Femi Dapson. It has produced some of Nigeria’s most acclaimed Afrobeats music videos and has worked with artists including Burna Boy, Rema, Kizz Daniel, and Shallipopi, as well as major commercial brands.
What is Perliks’ most famous video?
One of his most celebrated works is the visual for Blaqbonez’s “Back in Uni,” which earned a Headies Award nomination for Best Music Video. He has also directed widely viewed videos for BNXN, Adekunle Gold, Fireboy DML, and Rema.
What is Perliks’ net worth?
As of 2026, Perliks’ net worth is estimated at between $98,000 and $158,000, earned through music video direction, photography, commercial productions via Nouvelle Films, and brand work.
