Favouritism controls opportunities among content creators — Okiki DFT

Content creator, Tolulope Daudu, aka Okiki DFT, tells Anjola Dawodu, about his career, strained relationships with colleagues and other issues

You’re considered part of the early wave of Nigerian skit creators. Do you feel like a pioneer or just someone who came early?

I studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Akoka. Yes, I came early, and I pioneered. I can say I pioneered because we all started together, and now, 10 years down the line, looking back at Nigerian content creation, a lot has changed. Back then, stand-up comedians only made skits when they had a show to promote, but I made skit-making my lifestyle. I took it as a job and put out skits every day. So I’d say I was part of the people who truly started skit-making in this part of the world.

However, the industry started from a place of “nobody is coming to help us,” so we did our thing by ourselves. We didn’t even have the mindset that we were pioneering anything at the time.

When you started, skit-making wasn’t taken seriously. Did people around you believe in what you were doing?

I was not taken seriously, and people around me did not believe in what I was doing. Back then, one of the most viral types of videos was actually of skit makers or content creators being harassed, even by the police. That shows how little it was respected at the time.

Looking at the industry now, do you feel fulfilled or slightly overlooked?

I feel proud because something I once doubted, and something I had no support for—not even from the country—has now become something everyone does. When I’m driving past and I see people shooting content by the roadside, especially in Lagos, it reminds me of how far we’ve come, even though we had to fight for that space.

That said, I can’t fully say we’ve accomplished everything because we are not where we are supposed to be yet, considering the capability of Nigerians. We can do much more. So, I’m both proud and not proud.

I’m proud of how far we’ve come, especially when I see young children creating content from their parents’ homes with full support. That shows growth, and I feel like we contributed to that. We tried our best to make it more respectable and Nigerian-oriented.

I am also proud that we got here without major support, but it could be better if there was more government backing. At the same time, I am not proud because creators outside Nigeria get monetised faster, while many Nigerian creators with huge followings are still struggling to monetise.

The industry has evolved a lot. Do you think the new generation of content creators respects those who started it?

No, they don’t; and that’s normal. Every kid is expected to misbehave at some point. But if they refuse correction, then it becomes a problem.

Imagine a 16-year-old already making money from home; that’s great. But when there’s no respect for experience or elders, that’s where the issue comes in. That said, not all of them are disrespectful.

At what point did you realise you weren’t just making videos anymore, but building an industry?

I did not realise it when I started. It was about three to four years later that I understood I was building a legacy and that people wanted to follow in my footsteps.

Between becoming successful or staying consistent, which do you think is harder to achieve?

In every industry, consistency is the real challenge. In this industry, you have to stay funny and keep evolving. I don’t like when people forget that we are comedians, and start taking everything too seriously.

Consistency also means adapting to trends, collaborating with younger creators, and sometimes even dealing with insults. But collaboration is key to staying relevant.

Do you still enjoy creating content the same way you did when you started?

Yes, I do. I have just accepted that Nigeria will always be Nigeria. There was a time I did not enjoy it as much because of challenges such as poor network and expensive data, which made content creation difficult.

You started when skit-making wasn’t considered a career. What did people think you were doing?

I considered it a career, but people around me did not think along that line. Still, I continued because I believed in it and didn’t care about their opinions. My focus was to become successful, and that was drove me.

Have you ever reached a point where content felt like pressure instead of passion?

No, I have never felt pressured in that way. The only pressure I feel is to become better than I was before, and to be successful.

To create good content in Nigeria, you need resources, including good locations, equipment and collaborations. So, the pressure is really about improving quality. Other people’s success should motivate you, not pressure you.

Skit-making and streaming are now big money earners. Do you think early creators like you were underpaid?

Yes, some of us were not even paid at all, and that is sad. We should be much further ahead than we are now. Some people were underpaid, and it reflects a system where people at the top were more focused on taking advantage of others than building the industry.

Are there cliques or inner circles that control opportunities in the industry?

Yes, and they are not even necessarily creators. It’s often about favouritism. That’s why networking is important. You have to build relationships and position yourself.

It is also a male-dominated space, and sometimes, men don’t even support fellow men as much as they should.

Have you ever been intentionally left out of collaborations? If yes, how did that feel?

Yes, I have. I used to give people the benefit of the doubt a lot, but over time I realised some exclusions were intentional.

There were situations where I was featured but not credited properly. It hurt at the time, but I eventually decided to focus on improving myself instead of dwelling on it.

There have been talks about tension between you and Nasboi. Could you paint us the true picture of what happened between both of you?

Nothing happened. He is just looking for attention.

How real is the support system in the content creator industry?

There is really no strong support system. My biggest support has been God and my fans. I call them my GNF family. Every creator should value their fans more because they are the real backbone.

Do collaborations come from friendship or strategy now?

 It is more strategic now. Before, it was more organic. Now, people focus on what will go viral or make money. Friendship comes after that.

Do you think support is sometimes misread as clout chasing?

Yes, it happens. Some people support others for genuine reasons, while others do it for personal gain. You need discernment to know the difference.

In this part of the world, people often assume you’re praising someone because you haven’t “made it,” which isn’t always true.

Have you ever supported someone genuinely and it was misinterpreted?

Yes, that happens all the time. People say I do too much, but they don’t understand my relationships. For example, people misread my involvement in Carter’s livestream, not knowing we’ve been friends for a long time.

You also have a strained relationship with another content creator, Sydney Talker. Have you cleared things up with him?

We don’t really talk often, but there’s no issue. We have discussed everything, and it was never that serious.

Do you feel pressure to explain yourself when certain narratives trend online?

Yes, I do, but it is exhausting. Sometimes, explaining only gives people more things to talk about.

Do you think the industry needs better structures for communication?

Yes, especially between creators and their fans. Many creators either don’t communicate, or they do it poorly. If there are proper communication channels, there will be understanding.

Creatives should not use your fan base as a weapon. Rather, they are supposed to guide them. Communication really matters; how you speak to your audience shapes everything.

What’s the most ridiculous skit idea you’ve had that ended up connecting with audiences?

I don’t create with the mindset that something won’t work. I believe everything will work. I have a possibilities mindset.

Have you ever posted a skit even when things went wrong?

Yes, that actually happens a lot; about 70 per cent of the time.

What’s one thing fans should know about you outside of content creation?

I am very God-fearing, and I love God deeply. I value relationships too. If you are my person, I stand by you.

I love being online as well, and I am a dog lover. I enjoy a soft “nepo baby” lifestyle. I also run a clothing brand.