Nigerian skit maker and actress, Maryam Apaokagi, popularly known as Taooma, has disclosed that her mother and the everyday behaviour of African parents serve as the biggest inspiration behind most of her comedy skits.
Speaking in an interview with TheCable, which was shared on X on Monday, the content creator said that although she occasionally experiences creative blocks, she often finds fresh ideas by observing life in African households.
According to Taooma, many of the situations she recreates in her skits are drawn from the actions and mannerisms of parents, particularly mothers.
“It’s not like I don’t run out of ideas, but I obviously recoup and rejuvenate.
“One of the major sources of my ideas is my mum and daily African parents — what they do and how they do their stuff. I just take the ideas and put my own spice on them,” she said.
She added that everyday family interactions provide countless moments that can easily be transformed into relatable comedy.
“If you sit down and think about what your mum does and everything, there are so many crazy things that they do,” she said.
The actress also shared insights into her personal habits, explaining that she is deliberate about the type of content she consumes because she prefers materials that inspire creativity and have a positive impact on her mindset.
“I don’t just consume content anyhow. I consume things that I know would inspire me and things that are good for my brain,” she said.
While admitting that reading is not one of her regular habits, Taooma revealed that she recently started reading James Clear’s bestselling book, Atomic Habits.
“I don’t really read books, I’m not going to lie to you. I just started reading Atomic Habits. I pray I finish it this year.”
Speaking on the origin of her popular character, Quadri, Taooma explained that the role was never intended to become a recurring feature in her skits.
According to her, the character was originally created for a brief appearance, possibly for an advertisement or to introduce another personality, but audience reactions convinced her to retain it.
“Quadri was actually a walk-past role. He was never meant to stay,” she said.
“When I did Quadri I realised people liked the character.”
She described Quadri as a typical young man from Ilorin, Kwara State, known for being outspoken and fearless.
“Quadri is a regular Ilorin boy. They are very rebellious and don’t take nonsense. Everybody has a Quadri character in their life,” she added.
Taooma also noted that although she enjoys reflecting Nigerian culture in her productions, most of her creative decisions happen naturally rather than through deliberate planning.
“I don’t sit down and say I want to pick a character from this place or that place. I just do it according to how it comes.”