When it comes to music, Wonu Osikoya knows her onions. If she’s not documenting relevant stories about Afro beats as a journalist at the Native, she’s having hard and important conversations about the Nigerian music industry on her video podcast- Osikoya Speaks.
In January 2021, Wonu started Osikoya Speaks to create a safe space, and express unconventional opinions about the Nigerian music industry. Two years, three seasons, and several ground-breaking conversations later, it’s clear that the podcast is garnering its audience, and steering a new era in the industry. And the best part is Wonu has barely scratched the surface!
Speaking with the Deeds team, Wonu shares her excitement about season three, her expectations, journey, and what the future holds for Osikoya Speaks.
Why podcasting, Wonu?
Hmm, that's a good question. Podcasting because I’ve always loved to talk, lol. Growing up, I really enjoyed public speaking and just airing my opinion. Choosing music as my niche came naturally because I’ve always loved great music and I love commenting on it even more. So, I just merged it.
Two years in, what has changed, and how has your journey been?
Not so much has changed since I started. I’m still as excited as day one, and I never want to lose that. Recently, my channel got monetized by YouTube and it felt refreshing to see my efforts pay off. My journey has been a rollercoaster, but I like to go back to the drawing board often to remind myself why I started this. This always helps me put a lot of things into perspective.
Congratulations! In your experience, what was the most exciting/craziest part about doing this?
Definitely being able to tell stories, share my experiences and opinions without holding back. I loved that so much and it’s one of the things that keeps me going. Also, learning new things on the job was quite exciting. When I started, I had to learn to edit so I could edit the episodes, and I had so much fun doing that.
Interesting. What does it feel like working in an emerging industry like podcasting and what was the toughest part of this process?
I have to acknowledge that so much has changed between January 2021 and now. There are more podcasts, and people are starting to pay more attention to the industry. So there’s more visibility, more opportunities. What makes my podcast stand out is that it’s different from what other music podcasts do. At the same time, that’s what makes it hard because there is no blueprint or so many references, I have to do everything myself from scratch.
How do you handle seasons where you’re struggling with creative blocks, especially because you are juggling multiple mediums?
One tip that helps me is to always write down ideas, as they come. One thing I’ve learned from working at the Native is there’s nothing like a stupid idea. I've had one idea since 2021 and it only just came together in December 2022. So, I always see ideas as blessings from God and I try to interpret them in the most creative ways possible. That’s how I stay creative around the clock. I’ve also found a way to strike a balance between my work as a journalist, A&R, and podcaster.
That’s quite impressive. How do you feel about the sudden rise of new podcasts in Nigeria?
I’m happy that people are starting to pay attention to us. On the other hand, I’m concerned that many podcasters don’t even understand the idea behind podcasting. I’m excited at the growth and opportunities that are coming through the visibility. However, I’m just hoping that people at least try to do the groundwork before they hop on the wave. But I’m not scared or threatened, there’s a Yoruba slang that goes “Elemi lo ma last” and it loosely means “only the tough will get through,” and that’s just facts.
Period. For people who love to try new things, recognizing when to stop is almost as important as the ability to keep trying. How do you recognize this point, as a creative?
I always know when to stop, lol. If I don’t have one genuine reason to keep trying, I’ll pull the plug. When I started podcasting, I was getting two listeners per week. I deleted my Anchor app because I didn’t want to get distracted by monitoring numbers. In the beginning, I just knew I wanted to do something fresh, and I stuck with that. Taking time out to reflect, and thinking about why you’re doing something really helps. So for me, the moment I don’t have any reason, I’m quitting.
Can you share any projects or collaborations you’re currently excited about?
I’m currently working on a segment of the podcast to highlight the work of new creatives, and I’m so excited to roll that out. Also, this new season of Osikoya speaks, promises to be lit and thrilling, so watch out for that!
Catch Osikoya Speaks here.
