The name Ereme Abraham might not ring a bell but once you mention, Twyse, Nigerian internet users can’t help but burst into laughter because of his comedy skits. With 243,000 followers on Instagram, 60,000 followers on his Twitter account and thousands of others across his other social media platforms, the UK-based Nigerian is unarguably a social media celebrity. He tells how it all began for him.
You have so many followers on your social media platforms, how did you come about that?
I would say that my craft got me that far, nothing special to be honest. The fact is that quite a lot of people love what I do. What works to my advantage is the fact that I am very consistent with my work and I have noticed that people always look forward to seeing more of my videos. I guess this has contributed to the high number of followers that I have on my social media platforms.
Did you open your social media accounts with the aim of becoming popular?
My intention was never to be popular. As a matter of fact, I hate being the centre of attraction. Followers or not, I will still be doing what I’m doing because my aim is to impact on my generation and the society. I want to encourage and enlighten my environment through my own little experience. Film making is my dream but as long as people find my skits entertaining, there would always be a blend of both. I’ve started making some huge investment in that independently and it promises to get bigger.
Did you ever imagine you would be this popular when you were creating your social media accounts?
No, back then I just did it to kill boredom. I also found out that it was a way of escaping from being depressed. Once in a while, I made a fool of myself, my family and friends but some people found it weird. Their reaction only motivated me to push further and do more.
Have you ever considered deleting or quitting your social media accounts at any time?
Yes. A lot of times I feel that way but these days, I just remind myself that life challenges are inevitable and they shouldn’t break us but make us stronger.
Do you think your contribution on social media has made any impact?
I don’t really know but I think my YouTube series have made good impact so far across the world and I pray they continue to make impact. The messages and calls I get from both my old and new fans have gone a long way to show and prove to me that I am making an impact in the world.
How do you react to negative feedbacks from the public over your posts?
Initially, I used to be very mad at negative feedbacks but these days, I just ignore them. There are lots of important things in my life that I need to focus on. I have come to realise that every successful person suffers negativity and hate from sad and frustrated people; so it is actually a good sign. Hateful people play a very vital role in people’s lives. I normally say that every successful person deserves a hateful person. It is a sign you are making progress.
How do you deal with naughty advances from female admirers?
I cherish the good ones and ignore the naughty ones. There are lots of things to focus on, so I really don’t have the whole time in the world to hang around achieving nothing. I know that these ladies wouldn’t want me if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing at the moment, so most times I like to be smart.
Has your presence on social media opened doors for you?
Yes it really has. I’ve met and communicated with quite a number of stars and great people I never thought I would ever come across. Through social media, I have been able to get quite a couple of deals and film works.
Have you ever wished you were as popular in real life as you were on the internet?
Real life would actually be worse. Right now, I can’t even go to the market, train station or walk on the street in peace, there will always be some shouting of my character names; Baba Taofeek, Broda Sade, or Mummy Tobi. It’s a good feeling but sometimes it gets out of hand.
Have you had reasons to block people on your social media accounts?
I block people a lot of times. It happens very well and I do that when people render words without having facts. I don’t do that on my skits because I can’t go through all the comments but most times, I do so with random posts with lesser comments. Sometimes I just block a person because they say rubbish while we are chatting.
What else do you use your social media accounts for other than posting comedy skits?
I use it for adverts and I also post things about my life that my fans need to know about.
Are you more popular in Nigeria or abroad?
I think about 60 per cent of my fan base is within Nigeria. It is a good feeling when you are far from home yet your people are still with you regardless of the distance.
Can you share some weird experiences you must have encountered online?
People asking for my number without even saying hi and sometimes, I see terrible things whenever I do the Skype calls. I won’t say specific things, but some people are really weird and I don’t know if it is part of the love or something else.
Which of your social media platforms do you have the strongest presence?
I think it is Instagram but we are shifting base soon, because of the way people hack accounts anyhow.
How do you come up with your comedy skit?
I just do the things that had happened to me while growing up till date and sometimes it is the experiences of people around me.
How much does it cost you to upload your skits online?
It costs me nothing but time. Soon, I am planning to improvise on a few things which will cost quite a huge sum but I’m happy about it.
How did it all begin for you?
I started making short videos on social media platforms like Instagram and Vine to mock myself. Then I later went on to do some Falz impersonation before I decided to start my own thing.
Were you ever frustrated at any point?
I was very frustrated at a point when I lost almost everything except my life. My girlfriend broke up with me for being too busy, I had food poison, lost my job, had problems with admission into school, I couldn’t afford to pay my rent, so my landlord had no choice but to push me out. During that period, my mom was also going through some difficulties I’d like to keep private. Everything felt like a wilderness for me back then but things are getting better now.
Why does your skit border on African parents?
It does not only border on African parents alone, sometimes it talks about this generation. But like I said, it is mostly about my experience in life and that of people around me.
How do your parents react when they watch some of your skits?
They think I’m doing a good job. Back then, my mom used to say I had to study law. She said I’d never do anything relating to theatre or film but nowadays, she says she always knew I was going to be great making videos. My parents are very supportive.
Have you been able to make money from social media?
Yes I have, especially through adverts. I have bagged quite a number of endorsements with brands like SureBet, Orijin, Sunlight, etc.
How have you been able to combine schooling with your social media activities?
I also combine it with work but I must confess it has not been easy but I’m doing the best I can as long as I can get at least three-four hours of sleep.
Which of your posts would you say shot you into limelight?
I think it is the one of my mum slamming a pan on my maid in the kitchen. Aphricape posted that video on his page and my page started getting a lot of followers from that time. Also, Krakstv and many of my fans have been very supportive by doing the same overtime.
How often do you encounter your followers in reality?
To be sincere, it is every day and I am actually not joking as God is my witness. I go out most of the time nowadays and hardly can I remember a day that I didn’t see someone who knows me through my works. It is a blessing.
Do you think social media is a viable way for youths to earn a living in Nigeria?
Yes. I think it is a very viable way for the youths of Nigeria to earn money as long as you don’t put money first. Creativity, passion and consistency should be the priority and other things will follow. – Punch.
