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, multidisciplinary artGod, VOFO, talks to us about how she uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I regret waking up to be honest. My alarm usually goes up by like 12 p.m. So that’s when I start my day. If I wake up by 5am or 3am or 1am, I basically regret into the next day. Once I’m done with that, I smoke a cigarette and then I probably step out to buy alcohol.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
To be honest, I’ve been using the internet for a long time, dating back to when VSCO was a thing. I’d say I don’t use the internet much now, compared to before because most of my work is physical and so I don’t necessarily need the internet for it . Now it’s just more like, I log into my website, I log into my social media accounts but you don’t get to see how I am, that kind of thing. I use the internet like a puppeteer.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
This was long ago honestly, before the internet became the internet. When VSCO literally just came about 2015/2016, I was dominating the whole internet with the whole content but no face attached to it thing. Back then, it used to be Vanessa spelt backwards, which was assenav. Assenav was that intro into what people thought they knew about art and photography, but they did not. There is no particular moment where I’d say I dominated the internet cause I’ve been doing this for a long time.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
On Instagram I have about four accounts, on Twitter I have two, on TikTok I have 1. I wont say favorite, but the account I use the most for promoting my shit is Instagram. I use Instagram for my videography account (Filmcerely) , photography account (VOFOGRAPH) but most people know me for my art account (VOFOART). I genuinely use every account to the best of my abilities but my favourite would be my books app. I read my books everyday. It’s not a social media account but I use it daily.
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 want my work to be more visible than my face. Most people know VOFO Art but they actually don’t know who I am. So in terms of my going viral, I don’t know which one I’ll pick that’ll say “oh this skyrocketed me to some shit” but I have worked with popular artists who despite me wanting to hide my face are like “omo bring your fucking head here and tell these people what you did” that kind of thing. So I don’t have any dynamic moments. I just know that when I put myself out there, the cult following I have will appreciate it.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
I’d say the most viral moment I had was 2020 during the ENDSARS period because I made a placard for queer people. I think I had a notification from someone that was like “omo we’re not fighting for queer people right now, we’re fighting for the right to live” I was like “bruh. Commot all that for here.” I wish I broke the placard on his head. But yeah, it was crazy. That went viral but I stood my ground regardless. I also did this painting on the 19th of October that was talking about SARS literally eradicating a bunch of people. So when it eventually happened the next day, I was shocked. I was in some survivor’s guilt after that too.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
Oh, never take anything anyone says too seriously. On most of my accounts I don’t have my comments open. Not because I don’t appreciate what people say but it’s just the casualty of how people think they’re supposed to make me feel. I’m my biggest critic so when you compliment me I’ll still be skeptical. That perspective has me second guessing what other people say. I’d say I need to do better with receiving compliments compared to just being my biggest critic.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I’m always just judging Twitter videos, TikTok videos because as an artGod, I see things from a certain perspective. So if I see you on that pedestal and you don’t see yourself, I’m irritated already. Sorry you are slow to understand, but I know you, I see you better than you see yourself. So my guilty pleasure is basically judging everything everyone does.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
Are you particular about your feed?
Seeing as I have about 4 accounts, I wont say yes. I have an account for art, photography, videography and I have a private account where I can just be myself and my feed on the private account is really limited because it’s private. I don’t really care about my feed.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
Oh my God. Someone literally sent me a link yesterday and when I opened it on the browser they were like “oh my god, you don’t have the YouTube app?” and I’m like “YouTube has an app?” I swear to God. I am purposely ancient with technology and shit. I literally just started using TikTok last week and I’m still trying to get the hang of it.
I already use YouTube through my browser to watch almost any video, but most people prefer TikTok because it has diverse content. I’ll just say my brain mehn. My brain is my favourite social media platform because it basically absorbs content from all the other five social media apps I’ve opened.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
I feel like not necessarily the world, but Lagos and Nigeria needs more diversity in the arts. There are a lot of people who can do a lot of things if they are just given the platform. And that is one of my biggest stresses. I see so many good people and all they need is just one small platform. I’m thinking of every other person aside from me when that question comes in. Everybody on every fucking social media deserves a fucking platform- Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Audiomack, Boomplay.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
This na set up. The coolest person I follow would be one of the VOFO franchises. I know it’s still my account but it’s one of the coolest accounts I follow. Either my Filmcerely or VOFOGRAPH.
The coolest people who follow me range from skaters, artists, producers, art gods, music gods.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
I recently paid for my Spotify with my Opay – shoutout Opay – because Apple Music kicked me out. So the most recent podcast I listened to was Nice To Have You by some independent artists and members of Native Records who talk about literally anything that’s happening in life. So, yeah, I just started following that.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
I have but hmm the universe does not allow me see things that I’ll regret o, cause I don’t have sense. When I say I don’t have sense, some people assume I’m insulting myself but nah, omo, you won’t be able to comprehend the level at which I reason things and it’s not because I’m stupid, it’s because I’m stupidly smart.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Bekinwari, Seyi Ladipo, Jahyém Jombo and Hanz The Man.
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.