Obasanjo’s Internet – Anj Fayemi

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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, Anjolaoluwa “Anj” Fayemi, artist and co-founder of Rivet talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.

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

I’d say pray if can, then go work out or run.

How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?

Both.

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

When I came back to Nigeria in December, I met something who I was runzing many years ago that I had never met before and all our interactions were over the internet. It was kinda cool that we’ve never met and it’s been like 10 years and now we’re finally meeting for the first time. That’s pretty cool. 

Your favourite social media platform and why?

Twitter, ’cause I get all the news and my Twitter feed is just the funniest. I can’t be on it on any day and not find something that’s just ridiculously hilarious. 

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?

I can’t remember exactly what the thing was but I think there was a time when people were posting something about Nigeria in 2013 or 2014, I think it was schools. I made some posts about it and it went viral. It was cool, I think it was easier to go viral then and a lot more people were active on Twitter, now everyone is trying to be too cool and only liking tweets. It was just a very funny day. It doesn’t translate to anything, but the tweet did well, so that was cool. 

What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
I avoid outrage. That’s one of my key tenets; avoid outrage, so nothing has ever stained my white. Mass people have never been really upset about anything, but before I used to respond to people’s tweets with like jokes and things potentially they didn’t like. I know some people blocked me because of that. But that’s the old me. 

What rules do you live by on the internet?
Don’t stain your white. Within that, be as funny as you can because you only live once, but don’t stain your white – that’s the most important thing. People are watching, haters matching, enemies watching – cooking all kinds of concoctions. 

What is your guiltiest online pleasure?

Watching old compilations of really good football players and watching them also talk about the game. I’m a sucker for anyone I respect talking about anything. 

Would you say you have an online persona?

Most people who see me online think I’m very very unserious – I mean, they would be correct but as I said, I don’t stain my white but I’m very unserious. 

What’s your favourite emoji and why?

🙏🏾🤝 I use this to gaslight people. It never means this 🙏🏾 but if you put it, it seems like you’re doing the right them but you know what you did. 

Are you particular about your feed?

Lots of football, music, and business-type things. It’s a mix. 

My previous account, which I no longer have was more about friends and fun, this now has everything from friends and work. I’m sure a lot of people see me tweeting random soccer stuff back to back, then what we’re working on, but I don’t care. 

YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?

YouTube, because of the longer form content. I can really dive into listening to someone I like talking about something. Most people shoot for wider screens on YouTube, so I feel like I enjoy more of the content in that format. 

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

Solsticefayemz. I think he’s a really talented guy. He deserves a shot. 

Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
On my old account, I was on something. Simi, Falz, and Olamide used to follow me, I was living large. But now they’ll probably never answer me again. 

Now, the coolest person who follows me is probably Aston Motes. He’s a low-key guy but he was the first engineer at Dropbox and he’s just a cool guy. The coolest person I follow would be Mike Salguero. He bootstrapped a very successful business to about $600 million. I think that’s a dope story.

What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?

There’re some cool guys who have a podcast called Sweet Lamba Podcast. 

Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?

Yeah.

5 people you’d love to see answer these questions 

Chu Chu Igbokwe, Zach Bijesse from Payhippo, Nathan from Klas Hq, Justin UG and Wonder B. 

 

Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.