By Esther Onyegbula

Abiri Tobi Folagade, popularly known as Folagade Banks, is a Nigerian content creator, actor and digital storyteller whose comedic brilliance has won hearts across continents. He is best known for portraying Mama Deola, the sharp-tongued, overzealous, deeply familiar Nigerian mother character, instantly recognisable by her brown rope, head tie and unmistakable accent.

In this interview, Folagade Banks opens up about his journey into content creation, how Facebook shaped his career, and why impact matters more than virality.

Let’s start with you, who is Folagade Banks beyond the screen?

I’m a content creator, actor and storyteller. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. Content creation wasn’t something I stumbled into randomly; it grew from my love for storytelling and connecting with people in a meaningful way.

Take us through your journey. How has Facebook helped you as a creator?

Facebook has helped me in so many ways. First, it gave me access to a global audience. That alone changed everything.
I actually started my content creation journey on Facebook, and the platform didn’t just help me post content, it helped me understand my audience. Through insights and analytics, I could see audience demographics, what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve.
Most importantly, Facebook helped me monetise my creativity. It showed me that content creation can be impactful and sustainable.

You’ve built a strong community on Facebook, how did that happen?

Consistency and listening to my audience. I started about four years ago, posting regularly and experimenting with ideas.
Over time, I noticed that my audience connected deeply with the Mama Deola character, so I leaned into it. I gave them more of what they loved, while still staying true to my values.
And to God be the glory, that consistency paid off.

For someone meeting Mama Deola for the first time, how would you describe the character?

Mama Deola is that quintessential African mother, overzealous, dramatic, caring, blunt, loving and intense, all at once.
If you’re Nigerian or African, you’ve met Mama Deola at least once in your life. She’s in the church, the mosque, the market, the office, the local government secretariat, even on your street.
She’s everywhere, that’s why the character resonates so deeply. It mirrors real life.

Why did you choose Mama Deola over other characters?

I didn’t just want to do comedy for laughs. I wanted to create impactful, family-friendly content, something mothers, fathers and children could watch together.
Mama Deola allowed me to blend humour with lessons. While people are laughing, they’re also learning, reflecting, and remembering people who mattered in their lives, maybe a grandmother, an aunt, or a neighbour.
In showing Mama Deola’s excesses, we’re also gently saying: “Sometimes, you can tone it down.”
I also want the younger generation to see, on record, what parenting looked like in the older generation, how dramatic, expressive and intense it was, that history matters.

Why did you explore Mama Deola?

Every creator has a best seller, and Mama Deola is mine. Anywhere I go, Dubai, the UK, the US, Africans recognise Mama Deola instantly. I was recently in Dubai, and everywhere I went, people knew the character.
So I said to myself: If this is my strongest tool, why not coat every important message with it? That way, the impact goes further.

Which Facebook feature has helped you most as a creator?

Sharing. I constantly encourage my audience to share my content, and that has helped tremendously. It expands reach organically and builds community.

With so much content out there today, what advice do you have for aspiring creators?

Know why you are creating content.
Don’t just create because everyone else is doing it. Create to make impact. When you focus on impact, you naturally build a true fan base.
At the beginning, set virality aside. Find what you love. Find what’s meaningful. Find what serves society. Money will follow, growth will follow.

You don’t need to be vulgar, you don’t need to sexualise content. You don’t need to abandon family values.
You can be civil and still go viral.

You’re very intentional about your audience. Why is that important to you?

I’m selective with entertainment, so I put myself in my audience’s shoes.
I ask: What would they enjoy? What would they accept?
I’ve built my audience over the years, so I know what they love, and that guides my content strategy.

Finally, what’s your message to creators who are yet to tap into social media, especially Facebook, especially in Africa?

Honestly, where have you been?
Facebook has been around since we were young, and it’s still standing strong. That tells you something.
Facebook gives you global reach, monetises creativity. Facebook helps you grow. I honestly don’t see a reason why any serious creator shouldn’t be on Facebook.
If you’re not creating on Facebook right now, please, before the end of today, open a page and start posting.
Your audience is waiting.
Folagade Banks’ journey is a reminder that when storytelling meets purpose, impact becomes inevitable, and sometimes, all it takes is one unforgettable character like Mama Deola.