February 06, (THEWILL) – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene, a.k.a Taooma, is, no doubt, one of the most popular skit makers on Instagram. She speaks with Shade Wesley-Metibogun, about her job as a content creator, her marriage and other issues. Excerpts:
You came into your own in 2021. How exactly did the year go for you?
Yes, it was a great year. Resilience is the best word to describe 2021 because it implies hope, faith and possibilities. There were many blessings and challenges, but I held on to my faith. Allah saw me through.
Were you able to accomplish all your goals?
I did my best and I have no reason to complain. I accomplished some goals. Now that we are in 2022, we shall accomplish the rest. Once there is life, there is hope too.
What are your plans for 2022?
You want me to reveal all my plans for the year? Let me just say that in 2022, I intend to create a lot of interesting and exciting content. My fans should expect awesome content, just as I always give them.
What was it like in 2005 when you started making skits? Can you describe the experience so far? Do you have any regrets?
It has been a great journey so far and a great experience as well. I have no regrets whatsoever, but I wish I had started long before that year. I believe I would have gone farther than this. However, I am very grateful to God for guiding me this far. I am praying for more rewards.
How did your parents react when you told them you were going into skit making?
My parents approved it, but on the condition that it would not affect my academic work in school. I had to stick to their rules. I would come back every weekend from school to shoot skits and then go back to school to edit them. I also ensured that my studies didn’t suffer. I had to be on my toes to make sure that one did not affect the other. But I wasn’t giving skit making the kind of attention that I am giving it now. It wasn’t easy back then, but I was able to cope.
You must have come from a strict background, based on the contents of your skits. Are they reflections of your childhood or you just decided to explore family values in your skits?
I get this all the time. My mum is principled, but not super strict like the Iya Tao character. I can count the number of times my mother laid her hands on me. I just decided to talk about family values with my videos. It is relatable content, which everyone can identify with. Some will watch and compare Iya Tao to their mothers because she is a typical African mother. I portray the normal family setting, father, mother and their children, the relationship they share and how parents respond and react to certain things from their children.
How easy is it to play the role of two or three characters in one skit?
It is not as easy as people think and it requires a lot of work. I am already used to it, anyway. Let us start with the costume. This is quite easy to come up with, but getting into the characters of each of the people you see in my skit is a lot of work. I get into characters immediately I am in their costume.
How expensive is it to shoot a skit, from the costume, makeup, shooting and concept?
I feel technology is the most expensive part of it. Manufacturers develop new cameras every time and I can tell you that every content creator wants their videos to be crystal clear and neat. I have my costumes already and I don’t have to rent any of them. But if I have to invite other acts to join me in shooting, I have to make costumes for them. That costs a lot of money. For makeup, you can easily negotiate. Getting the right location for shooting can be either expensive or not, depending on some factors. If you would like to use some locations, you have to write to the owners for approval and you have to pay some money after get it. I come up with my concepts that are mostly based on family values. That aspect is not expensive. I write them in my story book and I ponder on it for a while until I can feel it. Feeling it helps me take up the character easily.
Why is it that Iya Tao doesn’t ever change her costume. Is it intentional?
That’s Iya Tao’s signature look. Yes, it is intentional. This is so she can have that one look. It is for easy identification. When you come across her anywhere, you will be able to recognise her as Iya Tao, one of your favourite characters in comedy skits.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a skit maker?
Trust me, I want to do like 500 things at the same time. But there is never enough time. Another challenge is parody accounts on social media. When fraudsters do business with people without my consent or that of my management, it can be very discouraging.
A lot of skit makers are into mainstream acting, why are you not looking in that direction as well?
I am definitely looking in that direction, but, you know, time is everything. My husband and I manage a video-making outfit, The Greenade Company. Most certainly, the dream will come to reality very soon. The company to handle it is already in place, it is just a matter of time.
Who are your friends in the skit making business?
I have a cordial relationship with many other skit makers. If I should start mentioning names now, how many pages do you think this interview will take? We are all fine. Some of them are very close to me, but I won’t mention names.
Do you think skit makers can possibly take over from stand-up comedians?
That is far from the truth. We all have our specialties. The sky is big enough for all of us. I think we are all doing very well, whether as a skit maker or a standup comedian, we are contributing our quota to the development of the entertainment industry.
It seems you put more effort into skit making than your food business
Skit making is the parent brand. It should get more effort so that other brands, like the food business, can shine more. They are both doing fine. I work with a team, which makes the business aspect easier for me. I can say Taaooma brand is helping the business.
What advice do you have for youths nursing the ambition of skit making?
They need to be focused. It doesn’t require so much tutoring once they get the basic concepts like editing and other stuff. But they must be passionate about it. There are times when giving up becomes the only option, but they shouldn’t give up. That was why I mentioned focus at the beginning. They should also be prayerful. Everything needs prayer. They shouldn’t just rely on their efforts alone and they should ask God for his help, too.
You recently celebrated your wedding anniversary, taking many by surprise as most didn’t know you were married. How and when did your path and that of your husband cross?
We met when he came for national youth service in Kwara State some years ago. I was still a student of the University of Ilorin at the time. He taught me how to edit videos and inspired me to start skit making. He taught me how to use the camera and editing software called Premiere pro. I became interested in the things I learnt from him, we got close and here we are today.
You publicised your engagement, which took place in Namibia but chose to make your wedding a quiet affair. Any particular reason why?
Yes, we traveled to Namibia and got engaged there. We travelled to several countries after our engagement. The wedding was not a secret affair because a lot of people attended. We just opted for a quiet ceremony. It is not everyone that loves the noise and glamour that comes with wedding ceremonies. My husband didn’t know if we would have a loud wedding after our engagement. He left the decision to me.
What has changed about you since you got married?
Nothing has changed, except my surname, which is now Greene. I am still the Taaooma everyone knows. I still do the things I loved to do before I got married, which is skit making. Like I told you earlier, my husband inspired me to start skit making. Basically, I am still the same person.
What qualities attracted you to him?
He is a good man. He made me to become a better person. He has contributed a lot to the Taaooma brand. Do you want me to continue to list his good qualities? There won’t be space for that. I thank God I chose him.
You seem to be closer to your mother than your father. You talk about her a lot
My daddy is doing well. You know as the last born of the family, I have to be mummy’s girl. My dad is a super private man hence the reason I don’t scream his name, I have to respect his decision. They are both good and doing very fine and I love them very much, but I am still mummy’s girl.
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