I only join trends that connect with me — Jide Awobona

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Popular actor, Jide Awobona, has explained why he does not participate in every viral trend on social media, saying he only creates content that connects with him personally.

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Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, Awobona reflected on the inspiration behind his akara-themed skit, which gained attention amid conversations surrounding the First Lady’s comments about small businesses.

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He said, “From my own creative point of view, I saw people trying to play with that online using AI to make pictures. I was like, ‘What’s wrong with you people? How long will it take to fry akara?’ Instead of using AI, why not fry the akara for real? So that was why I did it.

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“It resonated with people because they never saw me going through all the stress. There were a lot of elements in that video beyond the akara. It was a lot of akara; it was more like it was for an event. I made a lot of it,” he said.

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Awobona added that he does not create content simply because a subject is trending, noting that his interest and creative instincts determine the ideas he pursues.

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“I don’t jump on all trends. I only join those that resonate with me. Also, it depends on my mood. I don’t want to generalise. It’s a personal thing,” he said.

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The actor revealed that he prefers acting on creative ideas immediately, as delaying them could affect his motivation.

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“I conceived the idea on a Saturday, and when I conceive an idea and don’t put it into action immediately, I may sleep and wake up not wanting to do anything about it again.

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“So, I brought the bread from my brother’s bakery. The next morning, when I woke up after praying, I just said, ‘Let’s get to it.’ Under three hours, I was done. We were documenting the process while the frying was ongoing,” he explained.

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Reflecting on the reaction to the skit, Awobona said he anticipated that the content would attract attention but did not expect the overwhelming response it received.

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“I wasn’t shocked. I knew there was going to be a reaction, but I didn’t know it was going to be that massive,” he said.

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