Oluwaseun Williams with the stage name Shawlapel the Entertainer is an up-and-coming comedian and skit maker who believes education and the creation of an enabling environment in society are keys to sustainability.
From learning fashion design after secondary school to writing, directing, editing, and producing comedy videos in the space of four years. ‘Shawlapel the Entertainer’, as he is known on social media, in this interview with Abiola Alli, expresses optimism and readiness to conquer the entertainment industry in Nigeria and the world at large with his style and versatility.
Excerpt:
Abiola Alli: Let us meet you.
Oluwaseun Williams: I am Oluwaseun Williams. I attended Army children's school, Ibadan, from 2003-2009. From 2009 to 2015, I had my secondary school education at Bashorun High School, Ibadan. After my secondary school education, I proceeded to learn fashion design near my residence, a trade I learnt for two years—2015 to 2017.
I started making skits in 2017 with the help of my friends, Opeyemi and James. After the period of learning fashion design, it was difficult to raise money for my graduation, so I worked as a sales boy for a while before I left due to salary inconsistency. Then, I started a job at BOVAS Filling Station, Ibadan, as a fuel attendant for six months. At the fuel station, I was indebted based on sales misappropriation, and I decided to leave. Between 2017 and 2021, I worked as a fashion stylist at four different fashion houses in Ibadan.
In February 2021, I finally graduated as a fashion stylist. Life is hard because I have a poor background. My parents are hale and hearty. I am not able to proceed to a higher institution due to financial constraints.
Why are you interested in skit-making?
Naturally, I make people laugh. As I said, I started shooting and making skits with the help of my friends. I write, direct, edit, and produce the videos while my friends help with posting them on social media. When we released our first three videos, people in our neighbourhood appreciated them and encouraged us to keep up with the good work. People loved what we were doing and tagged us as comedians whenever they saw us. That inspired me to continue as a skit maker. I believe with the interest, passion, and focus I put into skit-making, in a few years, I will be celebrated.
At the time I started uploading my content on Instagram, I used my friend's smartphone, and he was the one managing the accounts because I didn't have a phone. Whenever we shoot skits, he's in charge of uploading the content. There was a time when a friend from Instagram contacted us and said we should keep doing our best to grow our audience as it would boost our revenue as we would get paid. Unfortunately, after some weeks, the Instagram account was banned because of inappropriate content, according to the app. We lost access to the account, and that incident weighed and demoralized me. For a while, I was not able to continue producing skits. It is sad and heartbreaking to be off the scene for four years between 2017 and 2021.
To the glory of God, I started skit production afresh last year after buying a smartphone months after hustling as a sales boy at an enterprise, and I have been shooting back to back. It has been an insult and embarrassment to ask, request, and beg my friends to help me shoot, edit, and upload my skits to social media because I had no prior knowledge of then. But now, I thank God for providing a device for me, and after months of appealing to friends, I went to learn video editing and production in order to enhance my skills as a skit maker.
What makes you different from other skit makers?
I usually work on two things—humour and suspense. I do tell my crew members that if your skit is not funny, let it be humorous. People are tuned to interesting content, and they usually seek more, especially if it has humour in action, dialogue, monologue, or suspense. I am talented and versatile in what I do. I haven't been to the northern part of Nigeria, but I can speak the Hausa language. Also, my comedy is not women-based. My work is diverse.
Different people have different preferences for women-based content or women's assets. I do my skits based on inspiration or happenings around me and my jurisdiction.
What are the challenges you face as a skit maker?
I have a whole lot of challenges. Firstly, financially. Secondly, getting props or gadgets for shooting skits is not easy. Whether to buy food or pay for costumes, I am financially constricted. Most of the time, I beg my colleagues for collaboration or for assistance during skit production. Some insist on getting paid, while others ignore my calls.
Getting funds to buy data or subscribe to post my content on the internet is not easy for me. I went hungry for days after using my last penny for a smartphone data subscription. Since I work with 4–5 crew members, and sourcing funds is not easy, I do menial jobs in order to sustain and keep my brand up to date.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself at the top, touring around the world. I want to be famous and popular worldwide. I want to be the most rated comedian of my time. I want to receive awards and meet big names in different industries.
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