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 favorites on how they relate to the Internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, Oluchi Harrison, the new Culture Squad Member for MTV Base, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I pray before I start my day, then I go online and most times I start with my email because of business, business, business. I have to see what’s going on. I’ll probably have an email from the office. As you know, I’m the newest member of the MTV Base Culture Squad so I would probably have an email letting me know my schedule for the day. I have to go there first before I visit the other social media platforms.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
Well, my work sometimes might sound like pleasure but when I use the internet, I’m mostly on social media and when I’m on social media, I’m pretty much working. I’m also a content creator, presenter, and member of the Culture Squad so I have to be online. I have to know what’s happening in the entertainment world. It’s kind of work, kind of pleasure but it all intertwines at the end of the day.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
Well, the moments I would say capture the essence of the internet for me would be getting job opportunities. I feel like every job I have gotten so far has come from the internet. It might be on social media, it might be via email. Maybe also because I’m sort of a workaholic, my entire essence has come from the internet. Even the MTV Base gig has come from the internet because that’s where I found the Culture Squad auditions.
Your favorite social media platform and why?
It probably will be Instagram because that’s where I’m most active. These days, I sort of like LinkedIn because you get to see a few of your colleagues, and you get to officially know people there, even more than just the other social media platforms. You know, such weird things when you realize “Is this how old I’m getting that I’m actually liking LinkedIn?” I would say maybe, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn in that order. I’m sounding very weird right now even to myself.
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?
There was this video I did when TikTok just started moving a lot faster and people would make videos out of sounds. I took a sound from Genevieve when she said “You know, I’m an Igbo woman, right?” and added captions on the screen. I’ve actually planned to recreate that video and that was also part of what I built my brand around. I’ve always used the name the Ibo blondie on social media, but I had not really started reflecting on what it meant until I noticed how much people resonated with my brand as an Igbo woman. That video went viral on TikTok and Instagram. I have videos with more counts, but that has to be the first video that really puts my brand out there. I feel like that brand has also really resonated in my jobs, generally. I use my Igbo side both offscreen and onscreen and on social media. Even in my new role on MTV Base, I use my Igbo side occasionally. It’s just the entire brand kind of came to my life more from that point.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
I think it has to be one of my recent videos. So sometime between November and December, I started this challenge called “The 30 Days of Sharing my Social Anger” where I talk about something I’ve seen on social media or a trend I’ve seen around. I decided to talk about makeup artists getting angry when they do a service and the person goes ahead to use the makeup for their wedding, they start saying they cheated them even when the makeup products used were the regular makeup products and they would have paid for regular service. So that sparked a lot of outrage. People were coming left, right and center. It was funny to me. I just love seeing different people’s points of view and different sides. Some people supported it and some people were against it. It was chaotic. But yeah, it was fun.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
The rules I live by on the internet are first of all, “be kind” because you don’t know what anybody is going through – I feel like we’re used to writing a lot of mean stuff online because we’re behind a keypad. The second rule I’ll say is “Say it with your full chest if you’re going to say it”. The third is “be ready to back it up” because people can decide to square up. If they see you tomorrow, can you stand by what you said? If you can’t stand by it, you better not write it.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
Oh my God, the guiltiest has to be online shopping. Not even just online shopping, mostly window shopping because if you see my saved on Instagram? It’s a MESS. I think also with my new job, every time I see something I feel will look good, I send it to my stylist. Half of my time on social media, I’m scrolling through clothes and shoes.
Would you say you have an online persona?
Well, I feel like everybody who has seen me could attest to the fact that I’m the same person. So it’s like the level of crazy you see online is the level of crazy you see in person. The only thing is that I have a 50% threshold of ‘extrovertedness’ and a 50% threshold of ‘introvertedness’. So most times I have to conserve my energy at the end of the day. So unless you meet me when I need to rest, but if you meet me on a normal day, I’m the same person online and offline.
What’s your favorite emoji and why?
My recent favorite emoji is the smiley face with the hand across the face like you’re blushing. I don’t know. It feels like that’s me these days. A lot of times I’m constantly smiling or blushing.
Are you particular about your feed?
Once upon a time I was, but these days I go with the flow. I put out what I like. Most times I’m working so it cannot always be so tailored. So I want to post an event I just covered. I’m posting it. I want to post one of the shows I just recorded in the studio. I’m posting it. I’m not as particular as I used to be because there’s no time to be very curated, especially when you’re not just doing content creation but also working in media. You have to just put your work out there most times.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
I want to say YouTube because YouTube will pull in the money, you know? if you pass the threshold, you’re making this money. And then TikTok allows you to have a variety of audiences whether they’re following you or not. It just puts your content out there. It’s a hard tussle but I’ll say YouTubee because I’m an Igbo woman, the money has got to count.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
You know there’s this wonderful girl on Instagram, her handle is @theiboblondie. Have you seen her before? Have you heard of her? That’s me by the way, in case you haven’t realized.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
There’s a long line of cool people who I follow and follow me back. I follow a lot of cool people because I follow people based on the content they have. So if the content is giving what it’s supposed to give, of course.
But yeah, Bisola Aiyeola is an amazing person. She’s amazing both offline and online. Derenle Edun is also fantastic. They are nice people both offline and online. So the energy matches every time.
What is your favorite Nigerian podcast?
You know they started this podcast pandemic and I haven’t figured out which one I’m into. I plan on restarting mine. I started it some time ago but stopped. It’s probably my own, The Onu Oluchi show because I haven’t seen anybody that’s going to eat it up as much as I eat it up. It’s on YouTube and it’s coming back.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online? Did you regret it?
Absolutely not. I don’t, I will not. It’s not my thing.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Bisola Aiyeola, Denrele, Hauwa and Layi Wasabi.
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.