Oluwajoba Fagbulu, popularly known as MC Pamilerin, has over 157,000 followers on Instagram. He talks to FAITH AJAYI about his journey as a content creator
What can you tell us about your background?
I got the name, ‘Doctor Pamilerin’ when I started making people laugh with the jokes I made. People around me always regarded me as a funny person. Since then, everything has been going well
My childhood was very tough because I come from a poor home. I was a cleaner in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Alausa, Lagos State, before I took content creation as a career. I worked there for over two years before leaving in February 2023.
I also learnt a skill (working with aluminum) but things were not so good, so I decided to look for another side hustle. The journey has really not been rosy.
After that, I started creating content online, and I made use of the things I saw around me, until I was able to carve a niche for myself, which is mispronouncing names and things. Since then, God has been helping me.
What educational qualifications do you possess?
At the moment, my highest educational qualification is the West African Senior School Certificate, but I plan to go further as time goes on. However, there is nobody to support and help me now as an omo ajepako (poor kid). So, I had to buckle my shoe, tie my belt and fight for myself. That is what I have been doing, and I am still working towards having a brighter future.
What inspired you to start content creation?
Content creation is a job for me. I believe that one cannot just start creating content, unless one has the talent. Without being creative and gifted, one cannot do well as a content creator.
Nothing really inspires me, because that could mean one is copying another person. Being funny has always been in me. I love making people laugh. I have been doing it for a while, and it has become very easy for me to do. Creating content gives me joy.
My skits which entail me mispronouncing words have brought me this far; even to places I never thought I could be in 10 years. With content creation, everything has been working well for me. I am happy being a comedian. It is my talent, and I can always say that boldly.
What are the highlights of your career so far?
Through content creation, I have achieved a lot. Just like I mentioned earlier, there were some places I don’t think I would have been to, if it wasn’t for this talent. God has been helping me with my content creation career, and it has brought me this far.
I have been able to meet big personalities, such as Yinka Ayefele, Woli Agba and Femi Solar, among many others that I cannot recall at the moment.
Indeed, content creation has been good for me.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in the course of your career?
There are plenty of challenges, but the major one would be finances, because with my kind of content, I don’t need people before I can make them. All I need is money to promote the skits, but there was no money, so I started roughly. I started making videos with a small android phone, and along the line, the phone started having technical issues, which caused delays for me, because of the volume of information I had on it.
Getting a good camera was another challenge, but with dedication and the spirit of never saying never, I got a better phone that could handle the videos I create. Another challenge is what one has to go through in getting people to like one’s content.
But, like I said earlier, money is the biggest challenge, because without it, one cannot promote one’s craft. However, I am thankful that God has been helping me overcome those challenges.
In what specific ways have you been able to surmount the challenges?
One major thing that has helped me to overcome the challenge is consistency. It has always worked for me, right from the time I had a bad phone until now.
Consistency and determination helped me to overcome the challenge, and things are working fine.
Which skit brought you to the limelight?
It was the ‘Emefele’ content, which I made earlier this year. That was the content that brought me to limelight and made me go viral on all social media platforms. I kept doing it, and God has crowned my efforts with success.
Your content makes people laugh, especially because of the way you infuse both English and Yoruba language. Why did you decide to adopt that style?
When sapa (hunger/poverty) catches up with one, one will need to sit down and fashion out a way to rebrand oneself and one’s content. It is not something I sit down to script or draft. I did not plan it to be that way. I was actually about to do something different before the ‘emefele’ name came to mind. I then sat down to re-strategise and from there, I got the concept, which I have been using ever since.
Aside from content creation, what are your other areas of interest?
I am also a gospel music artiste. I am currently working on some songs, and very soon, the world will hear from me as regards that.
Some content creators write scripts and do several rehearsals before shooting their content. What can you tell us about your creative process; from ideation to the point of putting out the finished work?
When something comes naturally to one, one will find it easy to do without stress. If it is who one is, it will just flow easily, and one would not need to have a script.
That is how it has been for me as a comedian and master of ceremonies. I am just being myself.
Do you consider content creation profitable enough or are you doing it for the time being, with other plans in view?
It is profitable for me, and I see myself doing it for a long time.
What role do you think comedy plays in society, and how do you impact your audience through your work?
Comedy relieves a lot of fear and tension. I see comedy as a long life injection, because when one is happy, one will live long. It is a medicine for long life and relieving pressure. Many people in this country are under serious pressure, but when they watch comedy skits, they feel good and relieved, and their temperature becomes normal. Comedy plays a significant role in making life more beautiful for people, especially in this country.
What memorable interactions have you had with fans?
My first significant joy was when Ola of Lagos (a social media influencer) chatted with me on TikTok. He replied my message, and said he loved what I was doing. He also requested that I should send my account number. I was amazed that with content creation, I could interact with such people.
I also created content for Yinka Ayefele (a popular singer), and he encouraged me, telling me I’m doing well. He invited me, and gave me a lot of things.
Those are the things that give me joy, and I won’t forget them in a very long while.
My fans have also been the best family to me, because they are the ones helping and pushing my content. They also recommend me to people. Without them, I am nobody.
