The NEPA Boys are the kings of local content
Kamo and Ozain are the real deal when it comes to local content, their comedy is special, check them out and thank me later. (Photo credit: @Thenepabois) |
Content creators and skit makers are blowing up the Nigerian entertainment space and we’re loving it. I won’t say someone isn’t funny or another one isn’t good enough, I’ll simply say they’re not for me but today, I want to celebrate The NEPA Bois.
There are
chances that a non-Yoruba person might not be able to relate well with their
content, but I’m not sure there’s anytime I come across their skits without
laughing wildly, they’re that good and this has absolutely nothing to do with
hype, I currently don’t work with them but the possibility is there.
Kamo and
Ozain started off as the popular NEPA officials, chronicling situations from
power officials on duty and the challenges they face from time to time, if you’ve
ever been embarrassed by these people in real life, you’ll relate well with
these boys.
I stumbled on
them early last year and I’ve been a fan ever since, the quality of their
comedy, their use of native language and the ability to sell with local content
among other traits are the reasons they got me locked down, again I say they’re
that good.
Like I
mentioned, the only reason you might not relate with them is if you don’t
understand Yoruba language, trust me their theatrics will suffice even if you
don’t, the Ibadan vibes in them will give them away, verbal attacks and “abusive
eloquence” … I know someone will say no wonder, yes no wonder.
The NEPA Bois
have managed to incorporate seasoned actors into their skits and it’s part of
why their rise is steady, they have done something with Femi Adebayo, Baba
Lalude and Adedimeji Lateef, they have also gone beyond the NEPA stories.
They have
branched out into other characters and I’m loving it, you will too. It is how
they sell their brand partners with intelligent storytelling and salient
messages that wins me over, and I’m surprised they don’t have major brands leveraging
their platform.
Kamo is the
senior NEPA official that leads the charge for disconnection while Ozain is
more like Lord of Ajasa, the way they blitz through each other especially when shit
hits the fan that sends me rolling, and somehow, you’ll see them accepting fate
together because they always run into trouble together.
The NEPA Bois
had a show in Ibadan recently, their own stand up comedy gig and the number of people
I saw in that hall that day proved to me that their craft is well accepted
beyond words, how many of these skit makers can shutdown a hall like that?
There’s value
in local content, the craze for western acceptance will be the end of us if we
don’t appreciate our own. If these boys can bring out solid content from
everyday life like they’re doing, then there’s hope for the mother tongue.
I hope to see
more of them as I expect them to look beyond standard practice, if corporate
brands will partner with them, they have to begin to make forays into contents
that appeal to corporate brands while sticking to their language, here’s an
example:
Most brands
always interpret their ads into the languages of particular regions, we’ve seen
and heard Airtel, MTN and Bank ads on TV and Radio Stations respectively, that
means they know there are numbers in those regions for them to activate, local
language still sells.
They have
conquered the grassroots, they need to level up and make themselves appealing
to the corporate world as well, interestingly I can confirm that they’re well
and truly on their way to that level, they must not stop because they’re the
real deal.
Vader, the
agbero of Lagos has to be the darling of skit making right now and despite
starting recently, his growth is exponential, his positioning is the reason
brands like Orijin and Tech space giants are partnering with him, local content
with corporate feel, I hope you get me now.
I must also
mention that The NEPA Bois’ humility is enviable, very respectful guys by all
standards and that will be a currency they’ll be able to lavish when need
arises, I am a big fan and I’m rooting for them, check them out on IG:
thenepabois and thenepaboys_ozain.
I agree.Adeola
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