Oli Ekun is fondly known to many on social media, particularly Twitter, as a brand that can be associated with a peak comic content. His rise has been relatively quick but hardly surprising even you consider just how good he is at what he does. From starring in movies to interviews on CNN, the skit maker is well on his way to becoming an unforgettable figure in the entertainment industry.
He shares interesting details about his life as an emerging star in this interview with us:
49th Street: Let’s start off with the basics, who is Oli Ekun outside of the person we see in the skits?
Oli Ekun: My name is Olubiyi Oluwatobiloba and I am a very different from my Twitter persona in the sense that I’m actually a very quiet and reserved person. I don’t speak unless I am spoken to and I keep my conversations to a minimum. Mo gentle gan. So it is interesting for me to be another character, to be Agba, to be Oli Ekun to do the sugar daddy whatever online. But Olubiyi Oluwatobiloba is a very reserved person. I studied Adult Education in UI and finished in 2016. Kíni mo mọ̀ ní pa life mi again? (what else do I know about my life again?)… well I like playing games, I like eating. I like chilling and keeping to myself, I don’t really do much. And yeah of course, I really love creating content and coming up with brand new ideas.
49th Street: When would you first say you found out you were a funny guy? When did it first dawn on you that people found what you said and did funny?
Oli Ekun: It has always been my thing since I was small. It’s not like I tried to be intentionally funny, but I’ve always been able to entertain and get a reaction from people, make them laugh. Before I started doing comedy, I used to sing in the University; entertain people by doing music. Then the whole comedy stuff just sort of happened in 2019 and I realized this was something I could turn into a business, a brand. And that’s how it all started.
49th Street: What would you say has been the biggest moment of all of your achievements so far?
Oli Ekun: Omooo, I really can’t say because I’ve had a lot of things happen to me that I would have never imagined 4, 5 years ago. Like, if they told me back then that all of this would happen, I no go believe them, I no lie give you. But if you’re saying so far, I think the Guinness ambassador role is the biggest one. Then skit-wise, the one big moment for me was when John Boyega reached out to me. That was really crazy, a major highlight for me.
49th Street: Obviously, being famous has its ups and downs, what would you say are the best and the worst parts in your own experience?
Oli Ekun: I think the best part for me is that people love what I do. When people see me and say “nah Agba be that, we love your content”, it makes me feel good. Then the down part – and I’m speaking for myself here – is that the work demands multitasking and I’m not so good at that. I’m learning but it’s a slow process for me. Another down part would be that I can’t just behave anyhow like I used to. There are things I can’t say again. There was a particular time an issue came up on Twitter, they were accusing somebody, me sef go put mouth, nah so person for hierarchy call me say “kí lò n sọ lórí Twiitter? Kí ló kàn ẹ́ (what are you saying on Twitter? What’s your business?)” That kind of thing. But sometimes I still dey talk these things because I don’t care (laughs), o̩mo̩ mi ò ní filter o. But at the same time you have to control yourself, it’s all part of the game. Also I can’t dress in my ashewo shorts to some certain places even when that’s what I feel like wearing but I know I will get to one stage in my career where mo máa ṣi ìwà wù, mo máa misbehave, Ọlọ́hun. Put it in the article tó fé̩ ko̩, mo máa misbehave gan (laughs). Mo máa wo skimpies mi everywhere, àwọn báwo?
49th Street: Do you feel an added pressure to be funny when you make skits now or do you just go with it?
Oli Ekun: I like that question. Now, personally I’m all about the art and I always want to give my best. That’s why I don’t put out content sporadically, I take my time. If I don’t like the way it’s coming out, no matter how long it takes, I’ll wait. I won’t jeopardize my standards because people are waiting. Before I started the skits, I know how my life was. When I create content I know it is my best so if you like it, thanks for rocking with me and if you don’t? That’s your cup of tea. My mum has always told me since primary school, “Tobi, it’s not everybody that will like you” and that’s just a principle of life so it doesn’t really bother me. People that will love you will love you and that’s fine.
49th Street: When you look at the Nigerian music industry and how it has progressed over time, do you see the movie and comedy industry hitting those same heights, and where do you see yourself in the process of getting there?
Oli Ekun: Well, for the comedy industry, I feel we still have a long way to go. Because the comedy culture in places like the US and UK, is miles ahead of what we have here in terms of creativity, environment and content. There are comedy clubs in the US and around the world but we don’t really have that in Nigeria. Many of us are still at the level of those same old “Warri jokes”. We’ve come a long way and are doing well for ourselves but we should actually do more. I don’t think there’s anything like comedy awards here. If there is then it’s not a prominent one. So we comedians have to look into all of that, work on the culture and set the template for those coming behind us.
I would really love to work to a stage where I can help people develop and grow, that’s the major reason why I am doing what I am doing. To pull other people up so when I pull them up, they pull other people up and we all keep growing and…òyìnbó yẹn ò wá sí mi lórí but mo mọ nkan tí mo fẹ́ sọ o (the English is not coming to my head right now but I know what I want to say) (laughs). So it’s just about team work; team work makes the dream work. I want to produce movies, not just skits, I want to help artistes and manage people because there are so many talented people in this country, many of whom don’t have a platform. Imagine I, with the platform I have, help people like that? Then there is nothing stopping us. So in the next 5 years by God’s grace, I want my company to be a talent house, to bring people in so we can exchange ideas and move forward. I want to put out short films, host stand ups, and even one hour specials.
49th Street: So far you’ve had one or two starring roles in movies, was that always part of the plan or did it just happen?
Oli Ekun: Well it hasn’t always been part of the plan but it has been part of the plan. When I started making content, I never thought I would go into movies. But as I kept making content, I thought to myself, “kò ní bad kín ti orí bọ kiní yìí (it won’t be bad if I try this out)”, and that’s how it started. I was having that conversation with my boss and I said skits are not really sustainable. I am 25 years of age right now but tí mo bá pé 40 ṣé bí mo ṣe fẹ́ máa ṣe skit lọ re (when I turn 40, do I still want to be doing these skits)? But if you get into the movie industry you can do that for a long time. My own type of content, at the age of 40 doesn’t make much sense, it would make more sense for me to go into movies, to put my hands in other things…that sounds weird but you get my point (laughs). Shout-out to The Temple Management Company for putting me in my first movie, “Introducing The Kudjus”. A lot more movies are coming oh.
49th Street: What kind of movies do you feel are in your range of acting, just comedy or should we expect to see you in some James Bond like flicks?
Oli Ekun: (laughs) Personally, if you’re bringing me a script it has to be different from what I am already known for; I need something challenging. For now it’s fine if it’s just comedy but there will come a time I won’t accept such roles. I need something challenging, else it’s like I am not moving forward and there’s no range. I’ll like to play something different, bóyá kín ma (maybe I should ) play stripper, or playing a medical doctor, just something different.
49th Street: Earlier on, you mentioned doing music back in University, is that something you might just find yourself trying again?
Oli Ekun: We can’t say (laughs). Music jáwó o, a dẹ̀ gbọ́dọ̀ jẹun. Ọmọ á lo̩ school, ìyàwó á ṣerun, á ṣe nails (Music is lucrative, and we have to eat. Kids will go to school. The wife will make her hair and do her nails). I really don’t know but I can just play around and see what comes out of it. I won’t give it so much attention unless I see that people are rocking with it, but if I put music out tí ayé ò bá kojẹ (if people don’t vibe with it) then I will dey my dey (laughs).
49th Street: So let’s run a brief opinion segment here to get to know you better.
Oli Ekun: (laughs) Okay lets go.
49th Street: Who is your favourite BBN housemate and who would you say stands the best chance of winning?
Oli Ekun: I don’t have a favourite housemate but as a viewer, I think White Money stands a very good chance of winning. If he doesn’t then probably Liquorose.
49th Street: Who are your top 3 artistes home and abroad?
Oli Ekun: I like Wizzy, everybody knows. Then Burna and Davido. Abroad, it would be The Weeknd, Jay Z and Nas.
49th Street: How about your favourite comedian?
Oli Ekun: Dave Chapelle, and in Nigeria, Bovi.
49th Street: Do you have an all-time movie?
Oli Ekun: Yeah, that Lord of the Rings.
49th Street: Messi or Ronaldo.
Oli Ekun: Messi, he’s the GOAT.
49th Street: Last question, in the next 30 to 40 years, what do you want to come to the mind of people when they think about Oli Ekun? What are the things you want to be remembered for?
Oli Ekun: It might sound lame but I want to be remembered for being a good person, a decent human being. I want people to think of me and say “Oli Ekun was good to me”, that kind of vibe. I want to be remembered for helping people, for being an OG, for being a master in my field.
