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, content creator, Seyi Classic, talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I can’t even lie, I check my phone. I go through all my messages and TikTok to see how the videos are doing. I just go on the internet, to be honest. Then I stand up, use the toilet, pray, then go about life on my phone.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
My work is on the Internet, so it’s a mixture of both. As I’m working, I’m also enjoying myself.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
I would say the COVID-19 period. During COVID, nobody had anything to do except be on the internet. If you were not using the internet or social media, omo I don’t know what you were doing oh. I know a lot of people were picking up books, but for some of us, our books were even on the Internet. So that COVID era really defined my use of the internet. That was literally all I was doing. I was on socials, using the internet for every single thing.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
I think my favorite social media platform is TikTok because it has become more than just an app where people dance. You know how people used to say TikTok is just for dancers and stuff? TikTok is now a search engine. If I’m looking for something I just say, ok, “Restaurants to eat halal food in London” and they give me numerous options and reviews on how this restaurant is. So like TikTok is just the app. It’s there for me to laugh, It’s there for me to cry sometimes, It’s there for me to get information like that’s my G. 10/10.
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?
Oh my God! Yes. This was actually years back. It was a video of me ranting about University. I think I was in my second year and trust me the dynamic in which it changes from first year to second year is crazy. You see that second year? Ahhh we don’t talk about it now because of the way second year showed me pepper? I did not know when I got home and just started ranting. I think I was working on three-course works at the same time and it started hitting me like, “Huh, what was going on here?”
I don’t know when I carried the camera and said “if anybody told you you should go to University, don’t answer them because it is a scam. I am tired, I’m exasperated, this is not for me. OK?” Then I posted the video on my Snapchat and I kid you not, It’s been like five years, and every single year during exam season people post that video.
It was a beautiful feeling, can’t lie because I was not the only one that felt that way. We’re all hating this University thing together and we still did it. So yeah, it was a really beautiful feeling to see thousands of people post my video and love my content.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
Oh my God. Ahhh! It was a Tems video. So I do concert coverage, I get paid to attend concerts and stuff. But I really enjoy making concert videos and I remember going for the Wizkid concert at the O2, I think, two years ago. You know when he brought Tems out and he held her the wrong way? You remember that?
All I did was report what happened at the event. I think I wrote something about “it was at this point Wizkid F’ed up” or something like that. I captured that moment and I posted it on TikTok. In one day, that video had like 2 million views. Wizkid FC? They were dragging me o. They dragged me and I’m like “I did not do anything, It’s your GOAT that did something. Why are you insulting me?” They said I was saying nonsense and Tems was not angry.
When it comes to FC I stay away o. I mind my business chile. That’s the most outrage I’ve gotten from my content. Every other thing is just small small gbas gbos here and there.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
I don’t take people’s opinions seriously or too deeply because I realized that some people are just evil. They just want to spoil your day for a reason. It’s so easy to look at 10 comments where you have just 1 bad comment, but it’s that bad comment you want to fixate on. So I try to disconnect my emotions from other people’s. I don’t mix them together.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I have a couple. Have you seen those videos where they are breaking bottles on staircases? I love those videos so much. I can spend an hour lying down on my bed just watching those videos. They make me so happy. It just calms my anxiety, you know? How long would it take for this one to break?
I really enjoy those videos and just how they make different versions of it. There are also different videos on TikTok where people just play games with their families and stuff. Yeah, I just love that kind of content. They make me so happy.
Would you say you have an online persona?
I think so. I’m known as the Minister of Enjoyment. Anywhere there’s enjoyment, you’ll see me there – and rightfully so. But people think I do that every single day. That I don’t actually stay in my house. And quite frankly maybe 60% of the time, I’m in my house, but 40%? When I’m outside? I am outside. So people have the impression that I’m always out but that is not the case.
What’s your favorite emoji and why?
I love the face with hearts surrounding it and the ✨ sparkly star. When someone says something sweet to me I’m like “stop I’m blushing” then I now add the hearts emoji. The star emoji goes with everything. I can say thank you, ‘starrr’, love you, ‘starrr’. I use them every single time.
Are you particular about your feed?
I’m not one of those awon aesthetics. I like things looking a certain way, I don’t compromise on quality, but you see how others would have a nude layout or something? I don’t do that. I am more of putting out quality content. It doesn’t have to have a certain vibe to go along with my feed. I’m not particular about that. I’m after great content. If you go to the feed, you still enjoy it.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
It’s a no brainer, TikTok. It is practically YouTube. There’s no video on YouTube that I cannot watch on TikTok. I would have said, OK, TikTok was more short-form content but now TikTok has a 10 minutes feature. To be fair, content that is posted on YouTube is also being posted on TikTok. So I don’t really have to go to YouTube as much. But yeah, I prefer TikTok.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
Oh my goodness. I have a couple. Dimma Umeh. She is YouTube royalty. If you don’t watch Dimma’s vlogs, who are you watching? And then on TikTok, a Nigerian creator that I really, really, really, really enjoy right now is Seyi Classic. I don’t know if you’ve heard of him. He’s so spot on, so talented. Jokes aside, another creator that I really like right now is Layi Wasabi. He makes me laugh so much. His content is unreal.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
Oh my God. That is Tiwa Savage! Nobody cooler, nobody badder. Period! She follows me, I follow her, we are in love. I love her so much.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
I Said What I Said, the unsolicited opinions podcast. I hosted their London shows as well, so I have a bias. It was so good. I’ve hosted a lot of events, but you see that event? Top notch. FK and Jola are so amazing. They are so funny, they don’t even try.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
Hm? You say what? Enipe?
I haven’t hooked up with anyone I’ve met online, but I have gone on dates with people I met online.
Did I regret it? Ah. Some have shown me pepper but at the same time, I’ve had really solid relationships from social media so I wouldn’t say I regret it.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Caramel Sugar, Tomiwa Talabi, Mamadinya, Simply Sayo, Enioluwa