Comedian Musa Afolabi, popularly known as Lasisi Elenu,
has a following of over 337,000 on Instagram, where he posts the videos
of his skits. He is an ardent user of the ‘wide mouth’ filter, an
Instagram feature that he applies in all his skits. He tells JESUSEGUN
ALAGBE how he started and the blessings he has derived through the
social media
Your first Instagram skit was posted on August 11, 2017. How
did you grow your following so quickly to 337,000 within five months?
There is no secret at all. I think it is just about doing what I love
and enjoy. If you are consistent at doing something, people will notice
you and eventually follow you. They will also refer others to your page
if you are doing something wonderful. I never thought of coming online
to be posting any skit. I was just doing comedy for fun, for my family
and friends, who would laugh and compliment me. But afterwards, others
discovered me and wanted to see more of my funny side. So, in August
last year, I posted my first video skit on Instagram. I think I got just
about 80 views on my first post. By the time I posted my second skit,
it got about 110 views. I didn’t let the few views discourage me because
I was not seeking fame in the first place. So, I just kept doing what I
loved and enjoyed and that’s how the following grew. Today, I get
thousands of views on my skits. So, I didn’t do any special thing to get
followers on Instagram. I didn’t buy them and I didn’t also promote my
account. It just grew because of my consistency and because there is a
message in my skits.
Why do you use the ‘wide mouth’ filter for your skits?
I like the feature because it gives me a distinct look and voice in
my videos, thereby making them to be unique. I had been using the
feature on Snapchat but when I learnt about Instagram and that the
feature was also available on it, I didn’t think twice before adopting
it for my skits. And so far, the feedback from people has been good.
People like the way I use the filter in my videos.
Where do you draw inspiration from while creating your skits?
Many ideas go on in my head and I write them down if I don’t have my
phone with me. Some of those ideas are as a result of my frustration or
tiredness. I always try to turn every experience, whether positive or
negative, to an inspiration. And it doesn’t have to be a big experience.
My inspiration sometimes comes from small experiences. For instance, I
might be looking for fresh bread in the neighbourhood and if I don’t get
what I’m looking for, I get tired and frustrated and from there, it
could become the theme of the next skit I’m creating. I also listen to
people when they share their experience. Through what I hear, it can
also motivate me to create a skit. But overall, the desire to become
better day after day is the major source of my inspiration. When I wake
up, what I think about is how to make better impact on the lives of
people through my skits.
So, would you say you have made impact on people’s lives through your skits?
Yes, I have and it’s in a great way that has given me joy. I have
received tons of messages from Nigerians complimenting me regarding my
skits. Some would say when they were in the hospital on the sickbed; it
was my skits that made them not to give up on life. They would tell me
my skits kept them happy and sustained them throughout their stay in the
hospital. Some would tell me they were once frustrated but that my
skits made them to have a rethink about life. Some would say that when
they lost a friend or family member, my skits made them to smile and
forget their sorrow. Others would say when they lost their job or
relationship and they were down, my videos helped them to wade through
those hard times. Sometimes when I read the messages, it pushes me to
work harder towards putting smiles on more people’s faces. And I promise
to do that. So, yes, I have made impact on people’s lives through my
skits.
Have you ever been a victim of online bullying and how do you handle it?
Yes, who would say they have not been bullied online? The hustle has
not been easy, but I don’t pay attention to the bullies. I pay attention
to my work.
What are some of the weird requests you get from your fans, especially the female ones?
There is a lot of weirdness out there, but what I try to do is to
turn the weirdness into sources of inspiration. I don’t let them put me
off. Concerning my female fans, some of them usually tell me that I am
cute and that they would like to have sex with me. Some who don’t
request for sex would tell me that they just want to have a date with
me.
Do you grant such requests?
Of course not; one should not lose focus because of those things or
else, distraction will set in and success will become farther away. I
don’t want to be carried away.
Has your social media presence opened doors for you?
Certainly yes! It has opened doors for me. Through my skits, I have
been invited to perform at functions that ordinarily, I would never have
been able to attend. I have had conversations with people that I
wouldn’t have ordinarily met. I have also received gifts from people
because of what I do. So yes, my social media presence has brought
breakthrough for me and it is a testament to the fact that if you love
what you do and you are consistent at it, someday, it would bring
blessing.
Have you ever come across some of your online fans in real life?
Yes, many times. In fact, some minutes ago [Wednesday evening], I met
some fans and they were kind of excited. Sometimes now, I get scared of
going out because of the attention. But I guess this is something I
have to learn to adapt to.
Have you ever had a reason to block anyone on your social media pages and for what reason?
None at all! Things don’t get to me easily. I think I have a thick
skin, so it does not matter what people do to me, I don’t get easily
pissed off. Some would say negative things about me, some even try to
condemn what I do, but I have learnt to allow people air their views,
whether negative or positive. What I do and what I would encourage
anyone to do is to learn from the dirt people throw at you. If people
piss you off and you start blocking them, that means you might block
almost everyone in the long run. Meanwhile, you never know if your
strongest critic or hater today will become your biggest fan or lover in
the future. That’s why I simply overlook any naughty behaviour from
some fans.
Before using the social media to post your skits, what were you using the platform for?
I was a writer and songwriter, so I used the platform to share my
songs, but since I discovered the comedian in me, I have used the social
media, especially Instagram and Snapchat, to post my skits. So, right
now, what I basically use the social media for is to promote my comedy
career.
Is comedy a talent you developed while growing up or has it always been in you right from childhood?
I was just a normal guy, I never thought of becoming a comedian, but I
guess some people saw the comedian in me because they usually told me
that I was funny. I never knew I was — until I started. Today, I have no
regrets of who I am.
Which of your skits do you think put you in the limelight?
It was the one I made about people who live on Lagos Island — on how
they are too afraid of small potholes on the roads. I ranted that you
would see them driving their cars too delicately and swerving at the
sight of every small pothole and almost causing accident in some
instances. I told them in the skit to go to Lagos Mainland, where there
are many big potholes on the roads. If they saw how motorists on the
Mainland drove over large potholes, I told those on the Island that they
wouldn’t be swerving anyhow at the sight of small potholes.
What is the feedback you get from your family and friends regarding your skits?
It’s been good. They love what I’m doing and they are proud of me.
There are many comedians on the social media right now? What makes you different from others?
Comedians’ messages always differ and I believe I have a unique
message. Then, I also use the ‘wide mouth’ filter, which makes me have a
different look from other comedians.
Do you get endorsements from brands because of your popularity on social media?
Yes, a couple of brands have reached out to me and I hope to get more.
What would you tell youths trying to follow in your footsteps?
It’s taxing to make skits, it’s not easy. But I enjoy what I do. Some
people think it’s something that requires little effort to make. But
what I have found out is that if you enjoy what you are doing, you
wouldn’t mind the hard work that you have to put into it. Hence, what I
will tell anyone trying to do skit is to love doing it because if you
love it, you will enjoy it. If you don’t love it, you will quit too soon
after making a few skits.
Who is your role model in the Nigerian comedy landscape?
This is a difficult question. I can’t really say I have role models
in the industry, but of course, I have people that I admire. I am a fan
of many comedians, especially those who have been around for over 10
years. I don’t want to start mentioning names here, but these are people
that almost every Nigerian knows. These are people whose impacts on the
industry have been huge.
Have you ever posted a skit that you regretted making afterwards?
I have never regretted posting a skit online and this is because I
take my time to analyse and review whatever video I make before posting
it. I don’t just make skits because they are fun; they must pass a
message across to the people, so if it doesn’t contain any message, I
won’t post it.
