Obasanjo’s Internet – Adesewa

Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways in which we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we speak to some of our internet favourites on how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, fashion enthusiast and influencer, Adesewa, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

The first thing I do when I wake up is check my email because I know I definitely have a very important email to respond to. Even before I know if I can walk or I’m alive, I just open my eyes and I check my email. After that, I put my phone on silent and I go back to sleep.

How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?

I use the internet for work because without the internet, I would have no job. I also use it for pleasure, like for entertainment, to keep up with the news and then for fashion because I’m a fashion lover. 

What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?

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A post shared by Adesewa (@adesewa_22)

It was when I wore a dress from Veekee James and also when I wore a dress from Emagine by Bukola. Those two dresses went so viral. The first one was the Veekee James dress in 2021. That was the first time I had an inflow of people being like “oh my God, you’re so beautiful,” blah blah blah. But then, when I wore the Emagine By Bukola dress, Michelle, Beyonce’s friend, wanted that exact same gown. Like that was how crazy it was, and it was for Veekee James’s wedding. So yeah, the times I’ve worn Emagine By  Bukola and Veekee James are when I’ve seen how insane fashion lovers all around the world adore me in those capsules.

Your favourite social media platform and why?

OK, so my favorite social media platform, surprisingly, is Pinterest, and the reason I like it is because it’s a quiet space where you create your own world. There’s no public opinion, scrutiny, unnecessary opinions, or bad news. I always have my daily Pinterest enrichment times because I can create any reality that I want.

Another app I’m loving the most aside from Pinterest is Snapchat because I think I have about 80,000 followers there, and I have like a whole community. Those people love me and I love them too. Obviously, there are crazy ones, but I don’t care about them.

I’m not as active on Twitter because I have a job. Employment makes you less fun. I miss being so jobless when I could just, you know, go off, but then when you are employed, you can’t do that. 

What was the last meme you saved?

Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?

The first time I went viral was during COVID 2020. I posted a video challenge where you have a bucket, and then you take mini jars of water, and you pour water into it to describe Nigerian men. That video went so viral that it had almost a million views on Twitter. 

It sparked a little debate; there were a lot of opinions. Some people thought, “Who’s this pretty girl?” and they would follow me, and then there were the ones who would make very negative comments, talk about my features, and accuse me of things that I’ve never done.

 I’ve actually gone viral a lot of times on Twitter. What makes me go viral the most is the way I look. I have a very curvy body and that has sparked the most controversy. It always brings engagement, and also, surprisingly, my age. Every time it’s my birthday, somebody comes from somewhere and drops the harshest comment about my age.

But to be honest, all those things don’t faze me. They don’t define who I am, so I don’t care. But yeah, going viral brings a lot of things. But don’t let me focus on the negatives. Going viral has also brought blessings. I’ve met amazing people, I’ve built a platform, I’ve run two businesses, and I’m about to launch the 3rd one. 

What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?

I used to be a menace on Twitter. I would just tweet things, and I would always say my mind. Some would agree and some wouldn’t agree. There was a phase on Twitter when people used to have hate trains. So even if you say “I prefer oranges to mangoes,” somebody would just come from nowhere and tell you you’re a horrible person and be like “why don’t you like pineapples? Pineapples are better than oranges.” It was just so crazy.

I think the craziest outrage I’ve ever had on Twitter was on my 20th birthday when I posted a picture of myself. And I said, “baddest 19-year-old to ever do it.” I had about 1000 strangers on the internet who did not know my father, my mother, or even who I am, tell me I was not 19, that I was pushing 30.  It was so insane. My friends were insulting all of them, my phone was blowing up for like 2 days straight.

Honestly, it’s been a lot, but the craziest one they’ve dragged me for has been my age. Like are you crazy? Do you live in my house? Were you there when my mother gave birth to me? 

What rules do you live by on the internet?

Before, I used to be the kind of person who would be so happy. I thought everybody loved me and I would share every moment of my life, but now I just feel like life is crazy right now. Everybody’s angry and people are really just out to ruin reality.

So my advice to everybody is to share your story, create your content, make a name for yourself, but be very careful. Hide the things that make you happy and keep a very simple and low-profile life.

You know, you can be famous and people don’t know everything about you, like Beyonce. All I do on Instagram and Snapchat is share beautiful pictures. That’s all. I would never bring my personal affairs online. 

What is your guiltiest online pleasure?

It has to be reading TikTok comments. It makes me laugh so much. 

Would you say you have an online persona?

Yes, I do. Whenever people hear Adesewa, what comes to mind is “yeah, she’s figure 8,” “that girl always looks nice to every party,” and this is what I’ve heard. 

They just see me as a fashion parade. Like, “oh, that auntie? It’s just fashion.” I don’t have a chaotic personality. I mean, if I didn’t stop being a nuisance on Twitter, I would have had a chaotic personality, but that’s where maturity comes in. So right now, I think people just see me as “she’s just beautiful” and you know, “she’s just like a fashion parade,” basically. What I’m most notoriously known for is Aso Ebi styles and fashion styles. 

What’s your favourite emoji and why?

My favorite emoji has to be the cute emoji with the teary eyes because that’s how I finesse my way through everything. I even use that emoji in very professional emails. Trust me, it works, try it.

Are you particular about your feed?

I mean, I think I am. I don’t have an aesthetic, though. I think I am the aesthetic. I’m just in my own world. I created my own niche. Adesewa is a different person. She’s a whole new person entirely, and that’s what I love. There’s no one like me.

YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?

TikTok. YouTube is too long. I have ADHD. I also run a foundation for kids who have ADHD, guys, please check out the Adesewa Foundation. 

Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?

Niles Baby, my brother. He makes good music, and he’s someone that I definitely see being very successful in his career.

Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?

I would say that the coolest person I follow, someone whose style and life I love, has to be Chimamanda. I want to meet her someday. She’s like everything and I love her. 

Now the coolest person that follows me, will probably be Seyi Classic. He’s also part of the cool people that I follow.

What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?

My favorite Nigerian podcast is Love Boat by Noisy Streetss.

Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?

No. Guys, I don’t hook up with anybody online. Look, I’ve made a promise to myself to be single for a year. I just want to be in my own world. You have better chances to be my friend than moving to me because I hook up where?

5 people you’d love to see answer these questions

Nile Baby, Modupe Daramola, Wizkid, Davido, Chimamanda