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, the creator of Backstage Banter, Isi Ijewere, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
First thing I do when I wake up is pray. So I do the sign of the cross and then I begin with “And I believe in God” before going into my prayer. After that, I look at my phone. But I’m very conscious about not touching my phone until I at least say the “I believe in God” prayer.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
Mostly work. I use TikTok for pleasure but things like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube are mostly work.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
I feel like a stretch of time. I would say from that period before 2020 leading up to 2020. And then shortly after, I think those three years – maybe because it just showed me how much the world changed and how much the world was going to continue changing. Before 2020, people were doing a lot of things like dancing online, becoming popular from that, and earning money. And I was like, “ok, this is interesting” because I see myself in one of these spaces, doing my own thing, creating my own content and you know, potentially making money from that. So it really opened my eyes to a lot of opportunities. Then in 2020, it was how connected the internet kept all of us in different parts of the world, even though we were obviously stuck in our houses and things like that. After things really changed with the internet and a lot of people had succeeded during that 2020 time on TikTok. And I was like, wow, this was something that I kind of saw coming and then now it has actually happened. So those three years I would say.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
Oh, that is so hard to choose. I would say TikTok just because that’s where I go to just while away time, like I go to laugh. But then Instagram because I feel like it showcases my work better than TikTok does. Even though I think that my work goes farther on TikTok, on Instagram, it’s just the way the feed is. You can easily andvery quickly scroll down through someone’s page.
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?
The Asake concert I covered in Toronto. So I started the video by saying “Were those Asake ticket prices really worth it?” and then I showed how the concert was. It made me feel really good because I was like, “ok, this is nice.” I went to school, studied journalism and I’m now doing what I like doing in the music and entertainment space and people are engaging with it. So it made me feel really good.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
So a couple of things have generated outrage, but not directed toward me because most of what I do are interviews. But the one I would talk about is the Young Jonn video. So I interviewed Young Jonn and asked him what the slogan of Akwa Ibom state was because that’s the state he is from but then there were people arguing in the comments section – almost fighting in the comments section about whether he is Yoruba or from Akwa Ibom. Some people were full on insulting each other. I didn’t even realize that TikTok had blocked a lot of the comments because of how mean they were. I was like guys calm down, but that was fun.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
Firstly, I do not post anything too personal unless it’s on my close friends, even on my close friends, I don’t post anything too personal. Next, don’t think too deeply about anything because things are never what they seem especially online. Most people only post positive things that are happening, which is fine but then you can’t take that and think, “oh, this person’s life is so perfect. What’s happening with mine?” So that’s a really important one because everything that you see out there is curated because people want engagement.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
You know when people are trying out different sweets and candy and chocolates? I love those videos.
Would you say you have an online persona?
I feel like probably. I mean, it would make sense to. If you’re a creator you are probably trying to have an online persona that people are interested in. So I would hope I do. I want people to really get a sense of my personality so I really try to put that in my content and show that ok, this is me. So I would hope that my personality, like, my actual personality is showing in my social media posts and everything because I really want people to be able to connect with me.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
I think it is the cartwheel. It’s just so silly. It shows my excitement at the same time. Like yay!
Are you particular about your feed?
I try to be, but then I can’t really be because I can’t control how the content looks. It’s interviews I’m doing so a lot of times it’s just people’s faces. There’s not much curating that I can do so, I guess No. I just want to put out the content and the content is good. I hope the feed looks nice just by itself. But if it doesn’t, it’s like, yeah whatever.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
I think I prefer TikTok because if something is interesting and you post it, it’s likely going to get engagement. On YouTube, even if something is interesting and you post it, it might not get engagement. If you’re lucky, obviously it would go viral. But I think you’re just more likely to get engagement on TikTok because people are just there scrolling and scrolling.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
Emmanuel Owoniyi. I just think it’s really cool the way he breaks down songs and just goes into music and the essence of the songs. And the fact that he hosts spaces that allow people to come and air out their views and their opinions. I think it’s so important for sustaining our culture, craft, and what our artists and creatives are doing. So, I really like that.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
The coolest people I follow are probably my sisters because they are all designers and they do such great work. So I would say for now just to choose one, someone whose page is really active – she has a podcast called Layers of Design. She interviews architects and different designers. I think she’s almost on like 100 episodes which is super cool.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
I haven’t been listening to a lot of podcasts recently but the last time I was into podcasts, which was years ago, I think it was Temi and Mr Eazi’s podcast just because I thought it was so cute.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
No, I have never done that.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Kelechi Osegi and Kezzi.
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here
