Emmanuel Edunjobi aka Emma Oh My God, a
comedian, has over 200,000 followers on Instagram while his YouTube
channel and Facebook entertain thousands of viewers per post. The comic
act tells Ademola Olonilua how he has been able to achieve the feat.
comedian, has over 200,000 followers on Instagram while his YouTube
channel and Facebook entertain thousands of viewers per post. The comic
act tells Ademola Olonilua how he has been able to achieve the feat.
Why do you infuse music in most of your posts on social media?
It is because of what I do which is
called ‘musicomedy.’ It is a combination of music and comedy. I love
music and comedy a lot and I do them very well and that is why I infuse
both of them together. Most times when I hear some songs, somehow,
another version just gets replayed in my head. The song automatically
gets remixed in my head and the version could be in any of my favourite
genres like fuji or highlife.
called ‘musicomedy.’ It is a combination of music and comedy. I love
music and comedy a lot and I do them very well and that is why I infuse
both of them together. Most times when I hear some songs, somehow,
another version just gets replayed in my head. The song automatically
gets remixed in my head and the version could be in any of my favourite
genres like fuji or highlife.
I just like to interpret songs in my
favourite genre. I think being a creative mind is about recreating
things every now and then. People like it when I do that because it
comes out in a way they never imagined. However, this does not happen
with every song I listen to but there are some songs that I just listen
to and they change in my head.
favourite genre. I think being a creative mind is about recreating
things every now and then. People like it when I do that because it
comes out in a way they never imagined. However, this does not happen
with every song I listen to but there are some songs that I just listen
to and they change in my head.
You also use musical instruments for your skits. How did you learn how to use the various tools?
It is something I grew up with. I
started playing different musical instruments since I was about seven
years old. Once I am around any musical instrument, just give me a few
days and I would have mastered it. I taught myself how to play every
instrument that I use. I think it is a natural talent that was given to
me by God.
started playing different musical instruments since I was about seven
years old. Once I am around any musical instrument, just give me a few
days and I would have mastered it. I taught myself how to play every
instrument that I use. I think it is a natural talent that was given to
me by God.
I learnt everything on my own. For
instance, I just bought the talking drum this year and I learnt how to
play it after a week and that is because I did not have time to sit down
and learn it as fast as I would have loved to. I recently bought a bata
drum and by the next day, I was already playing it well, I even did a
skit with it. It depends on the complexity of the instrument and the
time I have to learn how to play it. I always find my way around musical
instruments.
instance, I just bought the talking drum this year and I learnt how to
play it after a week and that is because I did not have time to sit down
and learn it as fast as I would have loved to. I recently bought a bata
drum and by the next day, I was already playing it well, I even did a
skit with it. It depends on the complexity of the instrument and the
time I have to learn how to play it. I always find my way around musical
instruments.
So why didn’t you become a musician?
I am working on my music right now and I
just released a song. Doing ‘musicomedy’ is part of my strategy because
it is making people realise that I can also do music. Over time, people
have been advising me to delve into music. I am at a place where people
know I can do music. I just released a song titled ‘Marry me.’
just released a song. Doing ‘musicomedy’ is part of my strategy because
it is making people realise that I can also do music. Over time, people
have been advising me to delve into music. I am at a place where people
know I can do music. I just released a song titled ‘Marry me.’
Are you aware that you have a strong presence on social media?
People tell me that, so I am beginning
to believe. I am very active on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. I make
money from YouTube and that is why I am very active on that platform.
Primarily, I am more active on Instagram because that is where I post
most of my videos but I link the videos to my Facebook page.
to believe. I am very active on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. I make
money from YouTube and that is why I am very active on that platform.
Primarily, I am more active on Instagram because that is where I post
most of my videos but I link the videos to my Facebook page.
How do you make money from YouTube?
YouTube pays you via adsense. It also pays per view. They have their rates and the way they pay people.
How lucrative has it been for you?
It has not been bad at all but I am
focused on other things, so I am not paid as much as I would have been
if it was my main job. For instance, if I was focused on my YouTube
channel, I would have been getting more content and more view. The more
view you get, the more money you make. You can make a lot of money and
it can even be your major source of income. However, it is not the only
thing I do but it is a source of income for me.
focused on other things, so I am not paid as much as I would have been
if it was my main job. For instance, if I was focused on my YouTube
channel, I would have been getting more content and more view. The more
view you get, the more money you make. You can make a lot of money and
it can even be your major source of income. However, it is not the only
thing I do but it is a source of income for me.
When you created your social media accounts, was it with the mindset of becoming popular?
I created the accounts to express myself
and not to be popular. I opened the accounts with the hope of having a
platform where people would see my creativity and that is the most
important thing. It could be frustrating when you do some quality things
and nobody gets to see them or appreciate them. Also, when you ask
people for a platform, they turn you down. So, it was with the mindset
that people would finally get to see what I have to offer. I thank God
that it has been successful so far.
and not to be popular. I opened the accounts with the hope of having a
platform where people would see my creativity and that is the most
important thing. It could be frustrating when you do some quality things
and nobody gets to see them or appreciate them. Also, when you ask
people for a platform, they turn you down. So, it was with the mindset
that people would finally get to see what I have to offer. I thank God
that it has been successful so far.
Which of your posts shot you to online stardom?
It was definitely a skit I did about
Nigerian girls’ response to Davido’s song, ‘Aye.’ When I released the
skit, it went viral. Apparently, people had not seen anything like that
before and they did not expect it. That made some people to follow me on
social media. From then on, I became consistent. It is one thing for
people to notice your presence online but you need to show them that it
was not a fluke; that you actually have something to offer. Recently, I
have not had enough time to upload some content on Instagram because I
have been on tour abroad as I also do stand-up comedy. I have had a lot
going for me in terms of shows and tours but I have noticed the
difference between when I post things regularly and when I don’t. If you
do not post skits for a while, the followership reduces and people
begin to follow other consistent internet comedians. You need to keep
re-inventing yourself and come up with different skits.
Nigerian girls’ response to Davido’s song, ‘Aye.’ When I released the
skit, it went viral. Apparently, people had not seen anything like that
before and they did not expect it. That made some people to follow me on
social media. From then on, I became consistent. It is one thing for
people to notice your presence online but you need to show them that it
was not a fluke; that you actually have something to offer. Recently, I
have not had enough time to upload some content on Instagram because I
have been on tour abroad as I also do stand-up comedy. I have had a lot
going for me in terms of shows and tours but I have noticed the
difference between when I post things regularly and when I don’t. If you
do not post skits for a while, the followership reduces and people
begin to follow other consistent internet comedians. You need to keep
re-inventing yourself and come up with different skits.
How do you come up with your ideas?
It may sound cliché but I tell people
that it is the work of God because the ideas come to me as fully
conceptualised ideas; all I need to do is bring them into reality. I
thank God that I have all it takes to make it a reality by myself
because I can do everything by myself. I can produce; edit both the
audio and visuals myself. Most times, it is the actualisation of the
ideas that becomes a problem for people because when they have an idea,
they go to meet cameramen and they are charged a lot of money. This
could dampen a person’s spirit. Sometimes, I make it a conscious effort
to develop the content from the scratch. But 80 per cent of what I do
come to me as a whole.
that it is the work of God because the ideas come to me as fully
conceptualised ideas; all I need to do is bring them into reality. I
thank God that I have all it takes to make it a reality by myself
because I can do everything by myself. I can produce; edit both the
audio and visuals myself. Most times, it is the actualisation of the
ideas that becomes a problem for people because when they have an idea,
they go to meet cameramen and they are charged a lot of money. This
could dampen a person’s spirit. Sometimes, I make it a conscious effort
to develop the content from the scratch. But 80 per cent of what I do
come to me as a whole.
Have your activities on social media opened doors for you in any way?
Definitely, all my trips abroad have
been from social media. It has been a major source of publicity for me
in such a way that people know what I can do. In terms of the skits, I
have been making content for corporate bodies and even celebrities call
me to feature on their videos. There was a wedding I anchored last year
in Dubai and the people that invited me did so because they had seen my
work on social media. I still have some events lined up, a lot of jobs,
and they are courtesy of social media. Sometimes when I post things and
people comment that I am jobless, I just laugh and say that if only they
had an idea of what they are talking about.
been from social media. It has been a major source of publicity for me
in such a way that people know what I can do. In terms of the skits, I
have been making content for corporate bodies and even celebrities call
me to feature on their videos. There was a wedding I anchored last year
in Dubai and the people that invited me did so because they had seen my
work on social media. I still have some events lined up, a lot of jobs,
and they are courtesy of social media. Sometimes when I post things and
people comment that I am jobless, I just laugh and say that if only they
had an idea of what they are talking about.
Would you say that your activities on social media have impacted on the lives of your audience?
I put smiles on people’s faces every day
and I know this for a fact because people send me messages every day. A
lady once sent me a message that she cancelled her plan to commit
suicide after watching my video which told her she had a reason to
smile. When I get those messages, they make me happy. I once got a
message from the Chief Executive Officer of a company who told me that
despite his seriousness, all what his employees needed to make a request
from him is to show him my video. I have become the favourite of a lot
of people and there are some CEOs that must call me whenever they have
an event. I have also made people realise that there is nothing that is
not achievable. There are a lot of people that want to do what I am
doing now but it all began and stopped in their head because they felt
it could not be done but now that they are seeing me doing it, I have
given them hope. A lot of people send me messages that I inspire them
and I encourage them when they send me such messages. It is a form of
networking because a lot of people I have worked with, I met them on
social media. It bridges the gap. Most of the popular online comedians
like Aphricanape, Craze lown and the likes, we first met on Instagram
but when you see us, you would think we were childhood friends. It has
been mutually beneficial for me and those watching me.
and I know this for a fact because people send me messages every day. A
lady once sent me a message that she cancelled her plan to commit
suicide after watching my video which told her she had a reason to
smile. When I get those messages, they make me happy. I once got a
message from the Chief Executive Officer of a company who told me that
despite his seriousness, all what his employees needed to make a request
from him is to show him my video. I have become the favourite of a lot
of people and there are some CEOs that must call me whenever they have
an event. I have also made people realise that there is nothing that is
not achievable. There are a lot of people that want to do what I am
doing now but it all began and stopped in their head because they felt
it could not be done but now that they are seeing me doing it, I have
given them hope. A lot of people send me messages that I inspire them
and I encourage them when they send me such messages. It is a form of
networking because a lot of people I have worked with, I met them on
social media. It bridges the gap. Most of the popular online comedians
like Aphricanape, Craze lown and the likes, we first met on Instagram
but when you see us, you would think we were childhood friends. It has
been mutually beneficial for me and those watching me.
Are you saying that there are no disadvantages in being popular on social media?
There are and it is either you are
prepared for them before you become popular or you learn to develop a
thick skin as time goes on. A lot of people are out to bring you down on
social media. I have done some videos where I got over 50,000 comments
with everybody telling me that it is nice only for one person to come
and give me a very nasty negative comment. Initially, it used to get to
me but over time, I realised that those people just want attention. They
are sad people who just want to affect you with their sadness. What I
try to do is see if I can help the person become happy and if I cannot
then, I would move on.
prepared for them before you become popular or you learn to develop a
thick skin as time goes on. A lot of people are out to bring you down on
social media. I have done some videos where I got over 50,000 comments
with everybody telling me that it is nice only for one person to come
and give me a very nasty negative comment. Initially, it used to get to
me but over time, I realised that those people just want attention. They
are sad people who just want to affect you with their sadness. What I
try to do is see if I can help the person become happy and if I cannot
then, I would move on.
Also, you have to be careful with every
step that you take because a lot of eyes are on you. Things that you
would have done normally that nobody would notice can’t be done anymore.
You have to calculate every step you take. You have to make a conscious
effort to keep your private affairs very private because everything
could become public. There are a lot of down side to being popular on
social media.
step that you take because a lot of eyes are on you. Things that you
would have done normally that nobody would notice can’t be done anymore.
You have to calculate every step you take. You have to make a conscious
effort to keep your private affairs very private because everything
could become public. There are a lot of down side to being popular on
social media.
How have you been coping with ladies?
I have been getting attention from
ladies since I was a young boy. Women easily get attracted to me. During
my school days, they were attracted to me because I was a very
brilliant guy. In the university, I was very popular because of comedy
and in church, I was an instrumentalist. All these draw ladies to me.
During my NYSC days in Lagos, I won an award in a music competition. In
fact, when I go somewhere and I don’t get attention from ladies, I feel
abnormal because that is not the norm for me. Growing up with that
background, I have learnt how to handle the situation and that is why
there has been no scandal.
ladies since I was a young boy. Women easily get attracted to me. During
my school days, they were attracted to me because I was a very
brilliant guy. In the university, I was very popular because of comedy
and in church, I was an instrumentalist. All these draw ladies to me.
During my NYSC days in Lagos, I won an award in a music competition. In
fact, when I go somewhere and I don’t get attention from ladies, I feel
abnormal because that is not the norm for me. Growing up with that
background, I have learnt how to handle the situation and that is why
there has been no scandal.
Has there been any time you wanted to quit social media?
No because the goodies I get from it are more than the bad that could come from it. I am gaining a lot from it.
Besides posting comedy skits, what else do you do with your social media platform?
People strike deals with me for their
adverts or post on my page. I do content production for companies;
sometimes my face does not appear on such jobs because I would be the
script writer or content provider. I can say I get endorsement from some
companies, brands and organisations. It is a business platform for me
that has evolved from just posting skits and videos.
adverts or post on my page. I do content production for companies;
sometimes my face does not appear on such jobs because I would be the
script writer or content provider. I can say I get endorsement from some
companies, brands and organisations. It is a business platform for me
that has evolved from just posting skits and videos.
