Introducing Musiliu Adisa Sanni, a well-known broadcaster from Abeokuta, Ogun State, recognized by the affectionate aliases “Mr. Bebe” or “Bebe Musiliu.” Over the years, he has made a mark for himself as an exceptional presenter, a skilled Master of Ceremonies (MC), and a talented comedian. However, it was his foray into creating social media skits that truly propelled him to stardom.
His comedic persona, “Adisa Oni Taxi,” swiftly became a sensation, eclipsing even the considerable fame he had garnered through his prior ventures. The power of skit-making remarkably transformed his career trajectory.
Intriguingly, one particular skit titled “Se k’Ake wo’le?” played a crucial role in his meteoric rise to fame. Surprisingly, he initially disliked this very skit for undisclosed reasons, causing him to abandon it after its production. But fate had different plans for the seemingly discarded creation.
Unexpectedly, the abandoned skit found its way onto the Internet and, to no one’s surprise, went viral. Now, the question arises: How did this happen? How did a skit he once disregarded gain such widespread attention?
In an exclusive interview with SAHEED OJUBANIRE, Musiliu Adisa Sanni reveals the circumstances that led to the unexpected online success of the skit. Furthermore, he sheds light on why he initially held reservations about it, delving into the reasons behind his initial disliking of the very skit that brought him immense recognition.
Q: For the purpose of this interview, can you introduce yourself, please?
A: My name is Musiliu Adisa Sanni.
Q: You are a well-known broadcaster, singer, and incredibly funny Master of Ceremonies (MC), but you recently ventured into another aspect of your diverse talents – skit-making, in which you have also gained considerable popularity. So, how did the idea of creating skits online, portraying a humorous cab driver known as Adisa Oni Taxi, come to you?
R: Indeed, I believe that when one is born with certain degrees of talent, there is an inherent drive to explore and utilize each facet of that talent at different stages of life. This is true for me as well, as my skit character, Adisa Oni Taxi, has become the latest manifestation of my multiple talents being expressed. However, I am aware that in the future, there may be other avenues through which my talents will unfold, and this is all part of the divine gift bestowed upon me by God. Similarly, for anyone who possesses unique talents, it may be challenging to explain the origin and intricacies of those gifts; they simply manifest within us, and we embrace them with gratitude.
Q: Could you share the story of how Adisa Oni Taxi came into being?
A: Certainly! The inception of Adisa Oni Taxi, my latest contribution to the online entertainment industry, is truly a gift from God to entertain the world. The idea behind Adisa Oni Taxi came about when I was sitting with some friends, and I shared a joke about the humorous nature of taxi drivers in Abeokuta. They found my anecdotes about the funny behaviors of these drivers absolutely hilarious, and they even requested that I repeat the joke.
The moment that truly sparked the idea for Adisa Oni Taxi occurred during my time at Crescent University, where I was pursuing a Diploma Course in Mass Communication. It was during a break from our exams when a taxi driver drove by, embroiled in a heated argument with someone and threatening them with great passion. In jest, I remarked to my friends that Abeokuta taxi drivers are all bark and no bite, playfully suggesting that the driver might end up prostrating to the person he was arguing with once the situation got out of hand.
That playful comment became the foundation for Adisa Oni Taxi, and from there, I started developing the character further, bringing to life the amusing persona of a cab driver with a penchant for entertaining encounters. The response from my friends and their encouragement motivated me to share this comedic character with a broader audience through skit-making, leading to the popularity it enjoys today.
From that point on, I began sharing more anecdotes about the funny attitudes of taxi drivers I had witnessed in Abeokuta, and the laughter in the room intensified. As we returned to class to resume our exam papers, my friends, including Suko, Sukonmi Oyejide (the PDP Youth Leader in Ogun State), Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole (the PDP PRO in Ogun State), Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji (the founder/publisher of Penpushing Online Newspaper), and others who were all present for the course at Crescent University, started reciting lines from the taxi driver jokes I had shared. The room erupted with laughter once again as the humorous atmosphere continued to brighten our day.
It was intriguing to see how my friends affectionately started referring to me as “Oni Taxi Egba” (Abeokuta Taxi Driver) after our humorous exchange. This sparked something within me, and I began envisioning the bigger picture of the idea taking shape. The following day, as I was driving away from campus with my junior colleague in the broadcast media, Soji Akindiya, better known as Okanlomo, he suggested that I could develop the concept of Abeokuta Taxi Drivers into skits. His encouragement inspired me, and without hesitation, I decided to give it a try and see where it would lead.
Q: So, how did you then transform the idea into a reality?
R. There is a young man in the movie industry named Monday Abiose, who is a highly skilled Director of Photography (DoP) and happens to be very close to me. Monday is renowned for his work, including shooting the Saamu Alajo series for Odunlade Adekola and many other notable movies in the theatre industry.
I reached out to Monday and shared my idea with him, explaining that I wanted to take a professional approach to bring this skit to life. Although I could have chosen to use a smartphone to shoot the skit, I was determined to ensure top-notch quality, so I decided to collaborate with experienced individuals in the theatre industry for the shooting process.
To begin the project, I provided the funds needed to rent the necessary equipment. I emphasized my desire for full professionalism, and Monday and I discussed the type of camera to use. He mentioned some sophisticated options, but also suggested the use of a Mac 4 camera, which we ultimately decided on. I entrusted Monday with the resources to rent the Mac 4 camera, and thus, the journey of turning the idea into a reality began.
I inquired further about the additional equipment needed for shooting movies, including sound equipment and other essentials. Monday provided me with the list of requirements and the estimated cost. Without hesitation, I promptly provided the funds required for these additional items.
However, due to my busy schedule, I found it challenging to find the time for the actual shoot. Approximately two weeks after I had given Monday the money, he approached me, reminding me of the pending shoot and explaining that he had already paid for all the necessary equipment, and the money was non-refundable. He was eager to proceed with the project.
Despite having a prior commitment as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) on a Saturday, Monday persisted in persuading me to make time for the shoot. He assured me that the shooting wouldn’t take long, at most 30 minutes, and he already had the rented equipment in his possession.
Q: So, just to clarify, he had already acquired the equipment before he started reaching out to you, the actor?
R. Yes, and Monday was persistent, not accepting any excuses from me for not shooting on that day. Relenting to his enthusiasm, I quickly dressed in a Jalamia and grabbed one of the local caps I had at home before driving to meet Monday. I picked him up with my car, and once we were together, he asked me to share one of the concepts I had in mind for the skit.
I proceeded to explain the concept of a taxi driver getting into a confrontation with VIO (Vehicle Inspection Officers) officials on the highway, which eventually became the premise for the first episode we shot. However, shooting this episode presented some challenges. I had to reach out to Mr. Babalola, a prominent figure in the VIO office in Ogun State, to seek assistance in securing the presence of one or two VIO officials in uniform. Since it was a Saturday, a day when VIO officials typically do not work, it was initially difficult to arrange, but Mr. Babalola graciously helped us pull the necessary strings to get two officials for the shoot.
During the shooting process, we realized that the skit would benefit from ending at the VIO’s (Vehicle Inspection Officers) office in Kotopo, where a top official could educate the public about some VIO rules. However, we felt that to give the skit more credibility, we needed a well-known face from the movie industry to play the role of the boss, as I, the lead actor in the skit, was not yet a familiar face in acting circles.
Monday suggested reaching out to one of the experienced figures in the theatre industry, Ijayegbemi Monsuru, whom we affectionately call “big brother.” Without hesitation, I contacted him, and despite his location in Ijaye, he readily agreed to join us in Kotopo to conclude the shooting.
Initially, we thought we might need a uniform for him to portray a very senior VIO official. However, the VIO officials who had already been part of the skit reassured us that it wouldn’t be necessary, explaining that a senior official could dress in mufti while in his office. With everyone on board and ready to go, we wrapped up the shooting at the VIO’s office, concluding the skit on a high note.
Q: Was that how you filmed the very first episode of Adisa Oni Taxi?
R. Yes, that’s how the story of the first episode of Adisa Oni Taxi unfolded. Monday played a crucial role in the entire process; he not only directed the shooting but also took charge of the editing and post-production. After completing the editing, he promptly delivered the final video of the skit to me. Following his instructions, I first posted a “watch out” clip on my WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The response to the teaser clip was remarkably positive, with a high level of engagement from the audience.
Encouraged by the enthusiastic feedback from the teaser, I decided to officially release the full skit one Saturday morning after creating my YouTube channel. As soon as the first episode was released, people from both near and far reached out to me, expressing their admiration for the skit and commending me for a job well done. The overwhelming support and positive reception motivated me to continue creating more episodes of Adisa Oni Taxi, and thus, the journey of entertaining audiences with the humorous cab driver character continued to flourish.
Q: You must have truly made a lasting impression on the viewers.
R. Yes, that’s correct. After the success of the initial skit, many people inquired if I had prior acting experience, but I clarified that my previous roles were limited to minor appearances in movies, usually just one or two scenes, where I was directed to say specific lines. Acting wasn’t my full-time occupation.
On the day we filmed the VIO skit, Monday informed me that we had the camera available for the whole day, and he suggested we shoot another episode of Adisa Oni Taxi. He asked me to come up with a concept, and I proposed the idea of a female commuter flagging down my taxi, asking to go to Ake, a popular area in Abeokuta.
The humor would arise from her heavy Egba dialect, leading to a misinterpretation of her request. When the woman says, “Se k’Ake wo’le?” (meaning, “Should someone going to Ake get into the taxi?”), her dialect could be mistakenly perceived as asking if she could cry into my taxi. This linguistic twist would serve as the punchline for the skit.
We knew we needed a woman who could speak Egba dialect fluently, and that’s when we thought of Funmilayo Sonola, better known as Iya Sapon. I reached out to her, and she informed us that she was in an area known as Rounder, close to Crescent University in Abeokuta. So, we went there to meet her for the shoot.
After filming the second skit with Iya Sapon, I expressed my dissatisfaction with it to Monday, feeling that it was too short. Consequently, I decided not to publish that particular episode and instead focused on shooting other episodes of Adisa Oni Taxi. Little did I know that while continuing to film, the “Se k’Ake wo’le?” episode, which I initially disregarded, had become a viral sensation online and was rapidly gaining popularity.
Q: How did that unexpected surge in popularity happen?
R. This is how it happened. There is a talented video editor in Abeokuta named Olayiwola Babatunde Yusuff, widely known as Golden Boy. He came across the skit on a memory card that was used to record something else as well. Upon discovering the recording of the “Se k’Ake wo’le?” skit, Golden Boy found it amusing and decided to share it on his social media platforms.
One Sunday morning, as I ventured outside after Golden Boy had posted the “unauthorized” skit, I was taken aback by people hailing me from all directions, shouting “Se k’Ake wo’le?” I was puzzled because I knew I hadn’t officially released that particular episode yet. I wondered how people had seen it. Suspecting that Monday might have shared it without my knowledge, I called him to inquire, but he denied being the one responsible.
To my surprise, the skit had already spread like wildfire. It had been shared on the WhatsApp statuses of about 20 people in my contact list who had picked it from TikTok. Curious about the original source, I checked the TikTok page, and it was credited to “Yoruba Lawa Tv.” From the profile, I obtained the contact information of the account owner for further investigation.
Q: What course of action did you take next?
R. I immediately called him to inquire about the source of the skit, and he explained that he is a video editor who came across the skit on a memory card that was brought to him for editing another recording. He found the skit amusing and assumed that I had already released it myself. His intention was simply to share funny videos on his page without any intention of infringing on anyone’s copyright. When he realized that the skit was not officially released by me, he understood the gravity of the situation.
Upon learning how the skit was posted without my authorization, Monday and others were understandably upset and threatened to take action against those responsible. However, I had a different perspective and saw it as divine intervention. The unauthorized release of that specific episode propelled the character of Adisa Oni Taxi into the spotlight, achieving what about 15 previous episodes couldn’t within just minutes. It quickly garnered immense popularity and significantly boosted my social media followership.
Rather than seeking retribution, I saw the opportunity in this unexpected turn of events. I asked Golden Boy to provide me with the original copy of the skit to post on my YouTube channel. Surprisingly, the “Se k’Ake wo’le?” episode not only surpassed the previous episodes but also became the catalyst for building the Adisa Oni Taxi brand into what it is today. Its rapid success and viral nature greatly expanded my online presence, far beyond what I could have imagined in such a short time after its release.
Q: So, did the popularity of the “Se k’Ake wo’le?” episode prompt people to start searching for your other skits on the Internet?
R. Yes, indeed. The “Se k’Ake wo’le?” episode played a significant role in propelling people to search for my other skits on the internet. Prior to this, I had already released an episode featuring a prominent Fuji artiste in Nigeria, Alhaji Sefiu Alao, which garnered considerable attention and gave me hope that the brand was gaining momentum. Little did I know that an even more remarkable episode was lying dormant, waiting to take the brand to new heights.
Once “Se k’Ake wo’le?” skyrocketed the Adisa Oni Taxi brand to the top, I made the decision to revamp all my social media pages, changing them from my broadcasting brand to the Adisa Oni Taxi brand. In cases where I couldn’t completely change the names, I added Adisa Oni Taxi to them.
Following this change, people began to connect the Adisa Oni Taxi skits to the ones I had previously posted, including the one with Alhaji Sefiu Alao. Consequently, all the skits, including the one with the Fuji artiste, experienced a surge in viewership. From that point on, the brand continued to grow exponentially, and the success of the skits propelled the Adisa Oni Taxi character to widespread recognition and acclaim, solidifying its place in the realm of entertainment.
Q: How is your current relationship with the individual who released the Adisa Oni Taxi skit without your authorization?
R. For me, I tend to view things from a different perspective than others. Instead of seeking legal action against Golden Boy for releasing the skit without my authorization, I saw the situation in a unique light. I noticed that the very skit he released, which I had initially abandoned, turned out to be the one that brought tremendous success to the Adisa Oni Taxi series, shining a light on all the other skits. To me, this indicated that our stars aligned perfectly.
With this realization, I decided to work together with Golden Boy. However, when I initially reached out to him, he was hesitant, fearing that I might be trying to get him arrested. It took a voice note and my solemn oath before he finally trusted that I meant no harm. Once we met, I welcomed him warmly and offered him the role of the official editor for all my skits going forward. Since then, he has been responsible for editing all my subsequent Adisa Oni Taxi skits, and I must say, he has been the best editor I have worked with on the series.
Although the previous editors did a commendable job, Golden Boy’s dedication and commitment set him apart. He has the time and passion to ensure the skits are edited to perfection. I once used an editor who traveled from Oshogbo in Osun State, and he did an excellent job for about three episodes. However, his busy schedule made it difficult to collaborate consistently. On the other hand, I urged Golden Boy to be honest with me about his needs to deliver top-notch work, and he has been delivering consistently ever since. To date, he has edited approximately 15 episodes of Adisa Oni Taxi, making him an invaluable asset to the success of the series.
Q: Besides Sefiu Alao, which other celebrities from the entertainment industry have you featured in your skits?
R. I have had the pleasure of featuring several other celebrities from the entertainment industry in my skits. Some of these talented individuals include Soji Taiwo, popularly known as Omo Banke, Tunde Usman, better known as Okele, Ogboluke, Anthony Ogundimu, alias Ara, Kayode Akindina, popularly known as Mr. Paragon, Monsuru Ijayegbemi, Owolabi Ajasa, Sola Oyedele, better known as Ejikeme, Dare Agbejo, alias Filefun, Olu Olowogemo, better known as Harejan, Iya Sapon, Hamuda Eko, Abidemi Ishau, Aliyah, and a few others.
However, I am looking forward to collaborating with popular skit makers in the future, not solely limiting myself to regular actors. This will open up new and exciting opportunities for the Adisa Oni Taxi series, allowing for diverse and engaging content to entertain our audience.
Q: Could you list some of the popular skit makers you are looking forward to featuring in your upcoming episodes?
R. I am looking forward to featuring well-known skit makers such as Mr. Macaroni, Remote, Broda Shaggi, and several others in my upcoming episodes. My aim is to collaborate with them to create compelling and engaging content that resonates with our audience and showcases the unique talents of each individual. By working together, I hope to bring fresh and exciting elements to the Adisa Oni Taxi series and continue entertaining our viewers with meaningful and entertaining skits.
Q: How straightforward and financially demanding was it for you to invite the stars you have featured in your skits to your filming locations?
R. Well, the truth is that financing the skits and bringing popular stars to my filming locations has not been an easy task. It requires financial resources, and I have been using the earnings from my broadcasting job to fund the shooting of Adisa Oni Taxi skits. It can be quite challenging to secure the funds needed for equipment rental and crew expenses.
In this part of the world, talent alone is not enough; it must be complemented with financial backing. Many skit makers use smartphones to shoot their content, but renting proper video cameras and other accessories can be costly. Lack of adequate funding often hampers the progress of talented individuals.
Nevertheless, my longstanding relationship with many stars in the entertainment industry has been helpful. Building rapport with them over the years has made it easier for me to collaborate with them in my skits. For example, my friendship with Soji Omobanke and Okele, among others, from previous engagements as a broadcaster and comedian, has made them readily agree to feature in my skits without charging any fees.
When stars like Alhaji Sefiu Alao featured in my skits, they did so willingly and without requesting payment. Their encouragement and support have given my brand a lot of traction on the internet. Additionally, many other prominent figures in the entertainment and media industry have reached out to encourage me to keep going, and this has given me hope and motivation to continue in the industry.
Q: In conclusion, what would you like to say to your fans, both in Nigeria and abroad?
R. My message to my fans, both in Nigeria and abroad, is to continue supporting the Adisa Oni Taxi brand because it truly belongs to them. I firmly believe that the acceptance and love of the audience are what make any creative endeavor successful. Without the support of the fans, one is nothing in this industry.
I have seen some celebrities snubbing their fans when they are being hailed on the street, and I don’t respect that behavior. I always remember that it is the people, the fans, who validate my status as a celebrity. They are the ones who make me who I am today, and I am forever grateful for their love and support.
So, I urge my fans to keep watching, sharing, and enjoying the Adisa Oni Taxi skits. Your support means the world to me, and it motivates me to keep creating entertaining content for all of you. Together, we will continue to grow and build the Adisa Oni Taxi brand into something even greater. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!
I wholeheartedly agree with you. It’s essential to cherish and appreciate our fans because they are the ones who make our success possible. When I see my fans hailing me on the street as “Adisa Oni Taxi,” it fills my heart with joy and gratitude. I make sure to spend time with them, interact, and play because I see them as part of my journey and success.
Being a celebrity or having talent should never make us feel superior to our fans. Instead, it is an opportunity to connect and share our gifts with the world. I strongly condemn any behavior that shows disrespect towards fans. We should always remember that our fans are the reason for our success, and they deserve our appreciation and respect.
To all my fans, whether in Nigeria or abroad, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. Your love and support mean everything to me. Together, we have created something special with the Adisa Oni Taxi brand, and I promise to continue bringing you joy and laughter through my skits. Your encouragement inspires me to keep pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons. Thank you, and thank you once again for being a part of this incredible journey with me!
Sources: Naijalegit.com