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By Rita Okoye
Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as Kiekie is an accomplished actress, television host, content creator, and social media influencer.
In a recent interview on actor and host Tobi Makinde’s TTM Show, the proud mother of one spoke candidly about her journey to success, the challenges that come with fame, her private life, and much more.
Enjoy!
You didn’t just find yourself here all of a sudden. How has your journey been?
I feel like my story is quite unique because I like to call myself a late bloomer. It literally took me seven years to hit the spotlight. I started creating content in 2013, and I didn’t hit the spotlight until 2020. That’s seven years of me constantly doing what I love, funding it with other jobs I was doing. For those who knew me before I became a content creator, they would know that I used to be a stylist.
Meanwhile, as I was styling Simi, I was already creating Style It Yourself, with Kiki. I featured Jimmy Jatt and Mercy Aigbe. I had created a lot of content for YouTube, but it was mostly my brother, sister, and I who were watching it at the time. I would get about five views, and two of those views would be from me.
That’s pretty much how it started. My story is unique because I’m not the only late bloomer in life. I believe God has a way of rewarding patience. For me, it finally happened in 2020, and once it did, it’s been a steady upward trajectory.
The bigger my name got, the more gigs I started getting—hosting red carpet events, anchoring shows, and more. Then the lockdown came, and surprisingly, my views skyrocketed. It’s incredible how people just want to hear me speak. That’s the same energy I bring when I’m influencing—people simply want to hear me.
Of course, not everyone will like how you do what you do, but the key is to shut out negativity and focus on your bigger audience. My journey has been incredible, but beyond everything, the God factor has been very significant. I struggled for years in the content and TV space, but when things finally worked out, God elevated me even further with film. Acting wasn’t part of my initial plan, but I’ve had the privilege of working with great directors and actors.
All these things I do, I’m often afraid. But it’s amazing how God takes you through certain paths just to prepare you for the next phase. What looks like suffering is actually preparation. You just have to gather the lessons, put everything together, and be ready when your time comes.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
That’s a tough one. My head is big, but I honestly don’t think I’ve achieved something I would call the “greatest” yet. I’ve had many highlights, though. Winning at the AMVCA was a huge deal for me. I never thought I’d climb that stage as a content creator. Another highlight would be The Kiekie Unscripted Experience. That show was very close to a great achievement for me.
The God factor is always key, because He always has a plan for the visions He gives us. The talent space is spiritual—whether you admit it or not. As a creative, you’re directly connected to God. So, while I can’t pinpoint a single “greatest achievement” yet, I’d say Unscripted comes closest.
How has your upbringing in Ibadan influenced your journey?
All my life, I’ve attended private schools—from primary to university. After that, I went to two schools in Ibadan. Honestly, nothing about Ibadan was supposed to influence me creatively, because I wasn’t exposed to much there. However, everything I do is rooted in my Yoruba background. All the proverbs and expressions I use, I learned from Yoruba films. Growing up in Ibadan didn’t directly shape my creativity because I grew up in the more “English” part of the city.
How was your transition from being a TV host to becoming a content creator?
For me, I loved being on TV and I loved fashion. I know everything about fashion. But I didn’t necessarily like the first channel I was on. I wanted more, but there were restrictions. I moved to Spice TV, where I liked the channel but still didn’t enjoy the kind of content I was producing. So, I took my content to YouTube. That was how I started creating independently. Before then, I was already doing DIYs and GRWMs. My first skit went viral—it got crazy reactions. I started receiving calls from collaborators, and my name started spreading fast. At one point, I got over 200,000 subscribers in a single week. That was when the full transition happened.
How do you come about your creative ideas?
For me, every single second counts when it comes to content. Content has an ‘as e dey hot’ effect. When you execute it as soon as you conceive the idea, you feel very connected to it. As a content creator, you work on a platform that doesn’t sleep—so you shouldn’t sleep either. For me, it’s always a case of ‘I catch the idea, I shoot the content.’ I’m very attentive to my immediate environment and to people’s behavioral patterns. So my POVs are always authentic. My major selling points are that I’m very spontaneous, my wordplay is second to none, and I’m naturally dramatic. I don’t compromise—scenarios must be realistic and relatable. At the end of the day, the centerpiece of every content is relatability. I always look at my content from the angle of the people who watch it.
How did it feel addressing the Forbes Africa audience and giving that powerful speech?
As a host, I’ve had the privilege of standing in front of very large audiences. At this point, I don’t even get butterflies when I’m hosting anymore. But that event was different—it was Forbes Africa, and everybody in that room was somebody.
First of all, I was humbled by being invited by Forbes to deliver that speech. I also realised how massive the platform was, because the event was streaming live on the biggest platform in South Africa. In that moment, it became very important to connect with at least one person in the audience. I come from a comfortable home, but I always wanted more for myself. That’s why I respect Davido and Cuppy—because despite all they already had, they still hustle.
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I learned early in life that to grow anything, you have to build from scratch. My parents had done enough for me. By 2018, I was 28, and I figured that if I couldn’t navigate life at 28, then I wasn’t ready. I had to embrace the moment, experience what it would teach me, and learn from it. 2018 was a crazy year. It was the period I became much clearer about how I wanted to approach content delivery. I started the fashion show where I critiqued fashion in a funny way. My YouTube channel blew up in 2021, and even older content I had produced started going viral again.
The show was so remarkable that brands eventually started buying into it. But 2018 was the real turning point. If I hadn’t crashed and hit rock bottom, I wouldn’t have gone back to the drawing board. Honestly, when you’re at your lowest, that’s the best time to think. That building stage is essential—that’s where you really learn.
You’re known for your unique sense of style. Tell us about your fashion side.
It’s the same energy all through. One of my philosophies is: what is worth doing is worth doing well. If you’re not going to do it well, then why do it at all? When it comes to fashion, I’m very expressive. Every time I step out for an event, I want to present the very best version of myself. Comfort is also key in fashion because it boosts confidence. The moment you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’ve lost about 40 per cent of your confidence in that outfit.
I’m imaginative, and with fashion, I always look for excitement. Every look should be memorable—I want people to see it and remember it for something. That’s something I picked up from my mom. I also own a clothing line. I started it in 2008, during my third year at the university. The passion was always in me, even before I attended the London School of Fashion. The school simply polished what I already had.
Who’s that content creator you enjoy collaborating with?
I enjoy collaborating with Dollarz and Shaggy. Dollarz has this clueless expression that is hilarious. Honestly, I don’t just see him as a friend or colleague—I’m actually a fan of his works. Then there’s Shaggy—the way we sync is amazing. He’s a lunatic in the skit space. If I come up with a foolish idea, the first person I want to call is Fola. I’ve also done a couple of collaborations with Eni.
Is there a collaboration you regret?
No. A lot of people don’t necessarily align with me because of these things. I’m open-minded with everybody. But you need to understand that this is a workspace. Some people think I don’t want to collaborate with them, but it’s simply because our content doesn’t align. My brand is family-oriented. I have children watching my content. If your content is explicit, if you’re too ‘18+,’ I will not align with it.
How have you been able to balance and manage your private life beyond the content we see?
It’s crazy, how in a recent interview they played a game about my frequently Googled questions, and one of them was, ‘Is Kiekie still married?’
It’s not like I’m hiding anything—I say it openly. I see my family as my nude. I don’t see the need to share it. Different things work for different people. I feel like my work already puts me out there, so I deserve to have a personal life. That is the most precious thing to me—my dad, my mom, my family, my husband. Oversharing is a social media pandemic. It is ridiculous.
You’ve had lots of brand deals, gigs, influencing and all of that. Have you ever had to turn down brands, and why?
Yes. I’ve turned down a couple of brands. For me, it’s always about regard. I can literally count the number of brands I’ve worked with in the last two years. Influencing is about community building, and in that community, the only thing you’re truly building is trust. There’s no product I would sell to my fans that I don’t use personally. Regard is very important to me, and I have a huge issue with brands that don’t show respect for people.
I’m a very ambitious person, but I’m not desperate. I have big dreams. Unscripted cost me crazy millions of naira. I’m looking for money, but not the kind that will take away my peace of mind and sanity. I don’t want that. If you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything. I’ve been building my brand for 13 years. You can’t just come and tell me what is not. I’m realistic, and I’m blessed to have people around me who always tell me the truth. The work I’ve done that enables me to afford luxury is the achievement—not the luxury itself.
What makes you stand out as a brand?
Basically, what stands me out as a brand is that I’m super authentic. When I started creating content, I told myself it has to be the same online and offline. That consistency sticks in people’s minds. Being unique, genuine, and authentic gives your brand longevity. I feel that’s what sets me apart—just being me.
Can you tell us something we don’t know about you?
I am very, very slow to anger—in fact, so slow it can annoy another person.
There isn’t much to me outside the cameras. When I committed myself to content creation, I said I wanted to keep it original because it’s something I want to do for a long time, and I cannot afford to be inconsistent. If you’re not enjoying your content, why should other people enjoy it? Ads need to be engaging. I must be able to watch mine over and over again. Generally, I don’t like shouting. I’m a strong believer in communication. As an adult, it is your responsibility to be accountable, to communicate, and to coexist peacefully with other people.
What would you say has been your most bizarre moment at an event?
I was almost robbed at an event. As I was moving to my car, someone grabbed my bag and took two of my rings. Two of my nails broke, and I had a headache for about four days. Before then, I thought moving around with security was just for paparazzi. At another event, someone tried to cut my chain. Those two incidents were very crazy. The fact that fame takes away your freedom to move around freely is very tiring.
What’s your word of inspiration for your fans?
This is what I always say: You really need to be patient with yourself. The fact that it took me seven years doesn’t mean it will take you seven years. Be patient with yourself, and in all of it, don’t lose yourself. Enjoy what you must today, but don’t jeopardise your future. Stay committed to the craft, but understand that to achieve something big, a big sacrifice must be made.
