Showbiz
5 Lessons I Learned Building a Comedy Brand from a Character Named Tegwolo
By Erem Emeka
When I first started animating the character Tegwolo, my goal was to make people laugh and capture the hilarious, everyday struggles of Nigerian life through cartoons. I never imagined that this simple idea would be the foundation for a full-fledged media brand, House of Ajebo, a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers. Our newest venture, Jeni and Keni, a fun learning channel for kids with Afrobeat music, shows how we’ve expanded beyond that first character.
The journey from a single funny idea to a sustainable media business is a marathon, not a sprint. Many people see the subscriber counts and the viral skits, but they don’t see the years of strategy, failure, and learning that happen behind the scenes. For any aspiring creator out there wondering how to turn their passion into a profession, here are five lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Your First Fan Must Be You
Before you can convince millions to watch your content, you have to be completely sold on it yourself. You will be your own writer, editor, marketer, and motivator for a very long time. If you don’t genuinely love what you are creating, you will burn out. In the early days, there were times when the views were low and the progress felt slow. What kept me going? I genuinely thought Tegwolo was hilarious. I was my own biggest fan. That passion is your fuel. If you’re not excited to watch your own video for the tenth time during the edit, why would anyone else be excited to watch it once?
Consistency is More Important Than Virality
Everyone wants a viral video. But virality is unpredictable; it’s like lightning in a bottle. A sustainable channel, however, is built on consistency. It’s about building a relationship with your audience, and relationships are built on trust and reliability. Our audience knows to expect new content from us regularly. This consistency turns casual viewers into a loyal community. They don’t just show up for one hit video; they subscribe for the ongoing story. Focus on creating a realistic production schedule you can stick to. A thousand dedicated fans who show up every week are more valuable than a million viewers who show up once and never return.
Learn the Language of Business, Not Just Comedy
I am a comedian and a storyteller. But to run House of Ajebo and manage channels like Jeni and Keni, I also had to become a businessman. This is the part of the job that nobody talks about, but it’s the most critical for long-term success. You need to understand your analytics. Who is watching your content? Where are they from? What keeps them engaged? This data is gold. It helps you make smarter creative decisions. You also need to understand monetization, budgeting, and team management. You are the CEO of your brand. Don’t be afraid to learn about spreadsheets, contracts, and negotiation. Your creativity deserves a solid business foundation to support it.
Your Character is Your Brand; Protect It
Whether your “character” is an animated personality like Tegwolo, a teaching brand like Jeni and Keni, or simply your authentic self on camera, that is your brand. Every piece of content you release, every comment you reply to, and every brand you partner with defines what that brand stands for. We’ve had offers for collaborations that would have paid well but didn’t align with the family-friendly, relatable humor of House of Ajebo. We turned them down. Protecting the integrity of your brand is a long-term investment in the trust of your audience. If your audience trusts you, they will support you in everything you do, including your brand partnerships.
Collaboration is a Superpower
You cannot do it all alone. At some point, to grow, you need to build a team. For me, that meant hiring other animators, writers, and voice actors who could help expand the world of House of Ajebo and create new intellectual properties like Jeni and Keni. But collaboration also means working with other creators. The creator community in Nigeria is incredibly supportive. Working with other creators introduces you to new audiences and pushes you to be more creative. It’s about community over competition. The same goes for brands. The right partnership isn’t just an advert; it’s a collaboration that provides value to your audience and gives you the resources to make better content. Approach it as a creative partnership, not just a transaction.
Building a multi-brand media company on YouTube is challenging and immensely rewarding. It requires you to be an artist, a scientist, and an entrepreneur all at once. But if you stay true to your unique voice and approach your enterprise like a business from day one, you can build something truly special.
Erem Emeka is the Creator of House of Ajebo
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A Nigerian actress, Temitope Osoba, fondly called Tope Osoba by her fans, has reportedly passed away.
She died barely a year after she survived a battle with breast cancer, reports say.
The 41-year-old entertainer left the acting world to cater to her health, but returned shortly after she had a successful treatment in 2025.
The movie producer, however, has not been very active in the past months, ostensibly due to her health.
Her demise has come as a shock to some of her colleagues and admirers, as she was very lively during her lifetime.
Details about the unfortunate incident, which became known to her fans on Wednesday morning, have not been given by her family.
The first official voting of Big Brother Naija Season 11 is here, and fans have the power to decide who stays in the House and who leaves the competition.
After a week of getting to know the housemates, watching alliances form and seeing personalities emerge, this is where fans move from watching the game to influencing it. If you’ve been thinking about voting, here are five reasons why now is the time.
1. This Is the Season’s First Real Eviction
First evictions are always significant. They set the tone for the weeks ahead, reshape the House and often change the direction of the game. Viewers hold the power to change the trajectory of the game as they influence who continues their BBN journey and who the first set of housemates to leave are.
2. It’s Too Early to Lose Someone You Enjoy Watching
You may not have settled on a favourite housemate yet, and that’s perfectly normal. It’s only the first eviction. But if there’s someone you’ve enjoyed watching over the past week, this is your chance to help keep them in the House. Waiting until you’ve picked a favourite could mean losing a housemate you wish had stayed a little longer.
3. Every Vote Shapes the Competition
Who stays and who leaves affects everything from alliances and rivalries to tasks and strategies. The decisions viewers make this week will have an impact on how the game unfolds in the coming weeks.
4. Online Buzz Doesn’t Keep Housemates in the House
A housemate may trend all week, but that doesn’t automatically translate into safety. At the end of the day, it’s the votes that determine who survives eviction.
5. Don’t Leave It to Someone Else
It’s easy to assume other fans will do the voting, but every vote contributes to the final result. If there’s a housemate you’d like to see remain in the competition, this is your opportunity to back them.
Here’s How to Vote
Voting is available through the MyDStv app and MyGOtv app, as well as the Africa Magic voting website.
To vote:
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Register or log in using your mobile number and password.
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Select your favourite housemate.
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Choose the number of votes you’d like to cast.
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Submit your votes before the voting window closes.
Looking to boost your voting power? You can also earn bonus votes by playing games and completing quizzes on the MyDStv app and MyGOtv app.
The voting window for the first eviction is now open and closes on Thursday at 10:00 p.m. If there’s a housemate you’d like to see in the House for another week, be sure to cast your votes before the deadline.
Catch all the drama live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49. BBNaija season 11 is also available to watch on DStv Stream and GOtv Stream. For updates and exclusive news, visit www.africamagic.dstv.com/
After days of anticipation, Flora and Aikou have been confirmed as this season’s Gambits after receiving the highest number of votes from viewers. This was revealed during Sunday’s live show, where host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu announced the pair as the viewers’ choices.
Introduced as a brand-new twist for Season 11, The Gambit guarantees two selected housemates a place in the House until the final day. Although they will participate in tasks and House activities throughout the season, they will not be eligible to compete for the grand prize.
Sunday’s live show also marked the end of the Ladies-versus-Gentlemen format that defined the opening weeks of the competition. With the teams officially dissolved, the housemates will now compete as individuals.
Biggie also unveiled this week’s wager task, Game On, challenging the housemates to define the identity of Season 11. Through a creative presentation incorporating elements such as a logo, slogan, song, artwork and props, the housemates have been tasked with capturing what they believe this edition of Big Brother Naija should stand for and how they want it to be remembered.
The excitement continues today with the second Head of House Challenge at 2:00 p.m., where housemates will once again battle for power in the House. This will be followed by this week’s nomination show at 7:00 p.m., when viewers will find out who will become the first set of housemates to face possible eviction.
With Flora and Aikou’s fate in the House secured till the last day and the housemates now playing as individuals, the stakes have never been higher as the battle for the grand prize gathers momentum.
Viewers can enjoy the 24/7 BBNaija Season 11 experience on DStv and GOtv, or stream every episode live on DStv Stream and GOtv Stream.
For more updates, visit Africa Magic’s Big Brother Naija page and follow #BBNaija on X (@bbnaija), Instagram (@bigbronaija) and Facebook (Big Brother Naija).
