Timothy Oladoye and his wife, Adepelumi, are content creators with the username, Ayam Pikkoh Official, and 222,000 followers on Instagram. They speak to ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE about their careers, marriage and other issues
How did you start your journey as a content creator?
I began my content creation journey while participating in a drama group at church.
I have always had a passion for it, but it was put on hold when I joined the Nigerian Army. However, my wife eventually convinced me to get back into it, and I am now happy, living the life I always wanted.
Is the Nigerian Army okay with you creating content as their personnel?
The army has no problem with me, because I don’t do skits in uniform. I have also never made any skit that is against the army, so we are cool.
How have you been coping with your work as a soldier, and creating content?
I am currently on study leave, so I am in school. Whenever I don’t have lectures, I make skits with my wife.
What inspired you to collaborate with your wife?
The main reason for our collaboration is that I did not want my wife to work with other male actors who might be too ‘touchy’ (intimate) with her. Therefore, I decided to partner with her and provide support.
Since you both share the same social media page, how do you manage it?
Managing our shared social media page requires love and understanding between us. We both have access to it, because we are both logged in on our phones. I also fulfill the role of a manager, meaning that I am always the one who communicates with clients regarding advertisements, deals and other matters.
Could you share some of the opportunities that content creation has provided for you?
To be honest, content creation has opened up numerous opportunities for me that I never thought possible. As a content creator, people view one as a public figure, and I have been fortunate enough to meet prominent celebrities and influential politicians. I have had the privilege of dining and socialising with them solely based on my talent. Additionally, there is a significant financial aspect to content creation, as there are various ways to generate income for those who truly grasp its business aspect.
Also, during our wedding, we were honoured to have several celebrities in attendance, all of whom celebrated with us without being paid. They came to show their support, because we are colleagues in the content creation industry.
Numerous bloggers posted about the wedding for free too, resulting in widespread coverage. I firmly believe that if I was not a content creator, I would not have had that incredible opportunity.
However, there are also disadvantages to being a celebrity, as one will no longer have the freedom to do things one used to do freely. People take advantage of our perceived wealth, and inflate prices when selling things to us.
Who are some of the celebrities you have encountered?
I have had the opportunity to meet Rashid Yekinni (Itele d Icon), Olamide Baddo, Woli Arole, Woli Agba, Cute Abiola (Lawyer Kunle), Bukunmi Oluwasina, and many others.
What specific content helped you gain popularity?
It was when my wife and I created student-themed contents, with me playing the role of her teacher. We created a video, where I pretended to scold her after finding a condom in her bag. Our content always garners attention, because they are relatable, although people often find it hard to believe that we are acting.
What were some of the challenges you faced in the early stages of your career and how did you overcome them?
We encountered numerous challenges, because I did not allow my wife to collaborate with top celebrities for shoots, due to the constant desire to exploit her gender. I impose limitations on her, in order to prevent any assistance. However, despite being on our own, we persevered and reached the point where we currently stand. We remain determined and continue to make strong efforts.
What makes your content different from that of others?
It’s the fact that they are relatable and authentic. We make contents that are easy to understand, and self-explanatory. For instance, a recent video of my wife pouring water on our matrimonial bed because I did not buy her a wig went viral online, even though it was in Yoruba language. People could grasp the concept, without understanding the words being said, and many found it difficult to believe that it was content. They thought it was real. The topic got extensive media coverage, and became a prominent topic of discussion on various radio talk shows, offering valuable lessons.
How did you break the language barrier?
Most of our fans understand Yoruba. However, we try to break the language barrier by including subtitles or translations in our videos, so that everyone can understand and enjoy our content.
What is your evaluation of the societal effects caused by social media?
Social media has influenced people’s lives in both positive and negative ways. However, it is important to be cautious and not blindly trust everything seen on social media, as much of it is fabricated. People tend to selectively present themselves online, so it is crucial not to get caught up in everything one encounters.
My content got better after marriage — Adepelumi Oladoye
What can you tell us about your background?
I come from the polygamous family of Chief Sesan Keshinro, and I was raised in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
What influence did your background have on your career?
As regards my career, I can proudly say that I inherited my late father’s sense of humour and playful behaviour.
What impact did your hubby have on your career?
Contrary to the belief that marriage hinders the careers of female actors or comedians, my own experience has been different. I am fortunate to be married to a supportive man, who shares my love for entertainment. We create content together.
When did you start creating content?
I started acting in 2006 in church, but it became my profession when I met my husband. He encouraged me to continue pursuing it, recognising my talent, because an unfortunate event prevented me from completing my education. That made me believe that everything was over, considering the investment my father had made in my schooling; yet, I could not obtain the necessary result due to a mere N70,000. However, my husband assured me that success in life does not solely depend on academic achievements. Initially, I was worried that he would abandon me due to my lack of qualifications, but he still supported me and assisted in creating content.
How did you manage your career during pregnancy?
It was quite challenging, as people perceived me to be a young girl due to the type of content I was creating then. As a matter of fact, most of my fans are secondary school students. Therefore, it was difficult for me to reveal my pregnancy, because I was afraid it would end my career. Even while pregnant, I continued releasing content to prevent my fans from knowing.
When I gave birth, it became a sensation online, because people were not aware that I was pregnant. Many people even thought it was a hoax until I posted a video of my pregnant self, which finally convinced them.
What inspired you to begin pursuing comedy?
Initially, I was simply doing it for enjoyment, but when I landed my first advertisement deal, and I felt motivated. I realised that this hobby could actually bring me financial success. I recall a time when someone reached out to me for birthday shout-outs, and I asked my husband how much I should charge. He suggested telling them N20,000, but I felt that was too much for a simple video. Instead, I told the person N10,000, and they agreed to send the payment. This surprised me, and it motivated me to put in more effort and time into my content creation.
Where are you based?
We are based in Ibadan, Oyo State.
How did your husband’s family react when you started creating content?
Initially, it was difficult to convince them that I am self-employed. My mother-in-law believed I had no job, other than using my phone all day and night. I could not provide enough evidence to support my explanation at the time. However, I am grateful that I now have enough work as a back-up, and they can see that it is paying off.
What challenges do you face as a married woman and content creator?
Combining content creation with my personal business and domestic work, among other things, is challenging. This is because no matter how busy I am with producing content, I still have to cook for my husband, who dislikes eating food prepared by others. Therefore, I have to cook for him and serve him in a separate room. Despite facing disappointments at times, my husband and I choose to hide our feelings, continue creating content, and address our issues later after making content.
A video of yours that went viral on social media showed you pouring water on your matrimonial bed, because your husband refused to buy a wig for you. Many actually felt it was real and not a skit. What’s your reaction to that?
I have addressed this issue several times already. The truth is, it was actually just content. Just like my husband mentioned earlier, our contents always reflect reality.
These are occurrences that take place in households, which no one has the courage to openly discuss, so we have decided to take action in order to initiate conversations and promote learning. Despite facing criticism online due to my style of content, I have grown accustomed to it, as it has been a long time coming. Nonetheless, we have more unconventional content on the way.
This is not the first instance where people have criticised me for my content. In the past, one of my skits went viral, when some of my female friends were shown flaunting iPhones while wearing secondary school uniforms.
How did people react to it?
The response has been mixed, but I am not concerned about that. My main priority is providing information for others to learn from. It is worth noting that some radio presenters have reached out to express their gratitude, as our contents have given them topics of discussion.
How do you maintain a balance between your personal life and your online persona?
I believe there is little distinction between my personal life and my online lifestyle, because I consistently prioritise authenticity. Those who are close to me can vouch for this, but when it comes to creating content, I am willing to go the extra mile to convey the message I desire. Sometimes, we even redo the content multiple times until we achieve the perfect version to share online. I occasionally sustain injuries in the process.
What advice do you have for young individuals who admire you and want to be like you?
I am not inclined to provide advice, since it is essentially my perspective, and might not be well-received by many, due to its unfiltered nature. Additionally, most individuals dislike hearing the truth.
My point is that if one has been doing something for over two years without seeing any signs of success, it is time to change and try something else. The idea of never giving up has wasted a lot of young people’s time. Instead of trying to be like others, one should just be oneself. We can’t all think alike, and one cannot expect different results, while doing things the same way. Not everyone can be a star; some people have to be fans. Tunde Ednut (a popular blogger and social media influencer) spent years pursuing a music career, until he realised that music wasn’t his path. He switched to blogging, and is now incredibly successful. Imagine if someone had told him to never give up, he would still be an up-and-coming artiste at 40 years old.
