Olamide Oladimeji, popularly known as Dele, is a social media comedian with over 453,000 followers, who he often appears in skits with his colleague, Woli Agba. He tells TOFARATI IGE about his career and other issues
How did you start your social media comedy career?
It started way back with a ministry called Christ Chosen Vessel Dance and Drama Ministry, popularly known as Alfa Sule. God gave me the gift of playing drums and I love it so much. Back then, I usually moved around looking for posters of upcoming events that I could attend. On one fateful day in 2005, I went for a concert and I saw members of the Alfa Sule group, who were invited to perform at the event. I then walked up to a friend of mine who was a member of the ministry and asked him how they operated because I wanted to join them. I then joined them and over time, I got closer to Woli Agba (Ayo Ajewole), who I love so much. Everybody knows he has the gift of singing and since I had the gift of playing drums, whenever he was going for ministrations, I always followed him. However, it was not until about 2016 that he started his skits. I recall that on that day, members of the group were busy as we were going for a programme. He just came in and showed us a video on his phone, saying he had an idea. After our ministration, I called and told him I loved the skit he showed us on his phone earlier and that whenever he wanted to do anything like that, he should call me. Two days later, my mum sent me on an errand and I was on a motorcycle when he called me and said he had an idea. I immediately turned back to go and meet him, and we did the skit. That was how we made our first skit. In that particular skit, I assisted him with his luggage and when we got to his house, I waited for some time. When he came out after some time and saw me, he said he would have given me some money but he did not have loose change. I then told him to bring the money, that I would get loose change.
However, the skit that made me popular as ‘Dele’ was the one where I took a dog to the church to be a guard. In the course of telling me that he didn’t want the dog, he called me ‘Dele’, and that was how the name stuck.
How do you come up with concepts for your videos?
The only secret behind our concepts and inspiration is God. We started from doing dance dramas and we have not deviated from that concept. We don’t even use scripts. We just get to the venue and Woli Agba would tell us about the concept he has, while also giving everybody roles. We would also chip in suggestions to fine-tune the concepts. Sometime ago, we were shooting a movie with other people and they were expecting scripts but Woli told them that we did not use scripts.
What has been the most challenging skit you have made?
In that particular skit where I took a dog to the church, as my punishment, Woli asked me to sweep from Ibadan (Oyo State) to Lagos and he was following me. People were begging him but he refused. We never thought we would get to Lagos, but when we got to the tollgate (in Ibadan), I told Woli that playfully, we had covered a large distance. However, we kept going until we got to the Redemption Camp (Mowe, Ogun State).
Sometimes, when we are shooting, someone would get carried away and laugh but we would continue shooting without stopping.
Woli Agba uses a large cast, including you and other choristers. How is the group managed such that disagreements are properly settled?
We don’t have any issue. Money is the root of all evil. 60 per cent of the people in Alfa Sule are the ones with us now. As a result of that, we understand one another. Everybody is well compensated according to whatever comes in. It is God that took care of us. We are all contended.
Do you have plans to do solo skits?
Not really. For now, I am okay with Woli Agba. I have been working with him since 2005 and there have been no issues. Once God has destined two people to be together, it is better left that way. Some people call and tell me I am the one making the skits interesting. But, I don’t pay attention to them. I don’t allow myself to be distracted by things like that. I know where we are coming from and what I’ve gained from our association.
What are the benefits that social media comedy has brought your way?
The greatest benefit I have derived from social media comedy is that I have found myself in the midst of great people such as kings, queens and governors. Just by making skits, I have been to Canada twice and Dubai twice without paying a dime. I am grateful to God for what He has done for us.
What was your experience during the COVID-19 lockdown?
The coronavirus pandemic affected many things. Our work as master of ceremonies was affected because there were no events. However, we thank God that before the pandemic, we had been saving for the rainy days.
What is the most embarrassing moment you have had on set?
I have not really had any embarrassing moment on set while making our skits.
Beyond making skits, what are your long-term plans?
I manage a live band and also have a brand that makes beaded caps. With the band, we play different genres of music including highlife, ‘tungba’, apala, gospel and hip hop.
Is social media comedy enough to put food on one’s table?
Yes, it is, by the grace of God. I am married to a beautiful wife, with a lovely son, and I have been taking care of my family, including my parents, with the proceeds from social media comedy.
What advice do you have for young people who want to do social media comedy?
Woli Agba usually says you cannot teach a person how to be funny. I believe that comedy comes naturally. One cannot force oneself to make people laugh. It is either you have it or you don’t.
A lot of people send messages to me on social media that they want to be funny and do comedy. I always tell them to work on themselves. Whatever your hand finds to do, make sure you do it well. Discover yourself and know what you are good at. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks but always keep pushing ahead. Life is ‘turn by turn’, and one day, it would be your turn. One day, you would be announced to the world.
We never believed we could be where we are today. We were brought this far by the love and passion we have for the craft, and most importantly, the grace of God.
What are your educational qualifications?
For my elementary education, I attended Methodist Primary School at Odutola Road, Ibadan. I then went to Bashorun Ogunmola High School, Ring Road, Ibadan, for my secondary education. I went on to bag a National Diploma in Business Administration from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
I am from Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State but I have always lived in Ibadan.
Some people believe that one cannot make it big in the entertainment industry without being based in Lagos. What do you think about that?
When we first started, people used to tell us to come to Lagos and not just stay in Ibadan. They said that if we did not come to Lagos, people would not know about us.
However, we believe in ourselves and have always been consistent. Of all the entertainment personalities in Ibadan, Woli Agba has the highest number of followers on Instagram. From this same Ibadan, we have been to different parts of the world. If not for COVID-19, we would have been to a lot of places this year as well, because we had a lot of events lined up.
There are some of our colleagues who left Ibadan for Lagos but are nowhere to be found today. It is very important to stay where God wants one to be. What will be, will be. We are doing well.
Though you are a married man, do some of your female fans want to get intimate with you?
Yes, that is normal in our line of work. However, I handle it with understanding. I always relate well with my fans and let them know I am a family man. I appreciate them as my fans and thank them for supporting us. One has to be focused as a celebrity, otherwise, such things could derail one.
Does your wife get jealous at the attention you get from female fans?
Initially, there were times she got jealous. But she now understands that it is part of our work. I thank God I met her before I became popular. I had been dating her right from the days of Alfa Sule. If God gives one the right partner, there wouldn’t be any issue. If one does not choose right in marriage, life may be difficult.
Copyright PUNCH.