Taaooma is a Nigerian comedian, content creator, and cinematographer born Maryam Apaokagi on February 28, 1999, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. She rose to fame for playing multiple roles in short comedy skits, particularly those depicting African mothers disciplining their children.
Who Is Taaooma?
Taaooma is a Nigerian comedian, content creator, cinematographer, and social media influencer known for playing multiple roles in her skits. She is the CEO and founder of Chop Tao, a food company, and directs for The Greenade Company, a cinematography firm. Her comedy centers on exposing African mothers and their distinct approach to disciplining children.
What Is Taaooma’s Real Name and Background?
Taaooma’s real name is Maryam Apaokagi. She was born on February 28, 1999, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, though she spent most of her early years in Namibia.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maryam Apaokagi |
| Stage name | Taaooma |
| Date of birth | February 28, 1999 |
| Birthplace | Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria |
| Early years | Namibia |
| Occupation | Comedian, content creator, cinematographer |
| Companies | Chop Tao, The Greenade Company |
| Spouse | Abula (m. 2021) |
Where Did Taaooma Grow Up and Study?
Taaooma studied Tourism and Travel Service Management at Kwara State University. She originally planned a different career path, telling The Punch in 2022 that she wanted to become a doctor, then changed her mind toward law, before university offered her a place in tourism studies instead.
How Did Taaooma Start Her Comedy Career?
Taaooma started her comedy career in 2015 after convincing her fiancé to teach her the basics of video editing. She had joined Instagram in 2014, a year before she began posting content. Her fiancé, Abula, an Abuja-based video director, taught her the editing skills that became central to her early skits.
Her career followed three main stages:
- Learning video editing from her fiancé in 2015 and posting early comedy content on Instagram
- Building a niche around family-based comedy that highlighted African parenting styles
- Achieving breakout recognition in 2019 with a skit depicting a Nigerian mother driving her children to school
What Made Taaooma’s Skits Go Viral?
Taaooma’s 2019 skit “When Your Nigerian Mom Drives You to School” established her as one of Nigeria’s leading comedy content creators. The 56-second video introduced her comedic style to a wider audience and sparked her rapid rise. Her comedy skits center on exposing African mothers and their unique manner of disciplining African children, often through exaggerated portrayals involving a slap.
She plays every character in her skits herself, a defining trait of her content. In 2019, she was also named the face of Media Room Hub’s July issue, further extending her visibility that year.
What Businesses Has Taaooma Founded?
Taaooma has built two ventures alongside her comedy career.
Chop Tao functions as her food company, where she serves as CEO and founder.
The Greenade Company is a cinematography firm for which she works as a director. The company is led by her husband, Abula, a Nigerian cinematographer, music video director, and talent manager who also co-directed Zlatan’s 2017 music video “My Body.”
| Venture | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chop Tao | CEO, founder | Food company |
| The Greenade Company | Director | Cinematography firm |
What Awards Has Taaooma Received?
Taaooma has earned recognition across multiple comedy and entertainment award circuits. Her nominations and wins include Best Online Comedian of the Year at the Gage Awards, a nomination for Best Comedy Act at the 2020 City People Music Awards, and a nomination for a Net Honours Award for Most Popular Comedian in 2021.
What Is Taaooma’s Personal Life Like?
Taaooma is married to Abula, a Nigerian cinematographer and the founder of The Greenade Company. The couple became engaged in February 2020, with Abula proposing with the consent of Taaooma’s parents. They married in 2021. Abula frequently supports the shooting process behind her skits, though the ideas and editing remain her own work.
What Is Next for Taaooma?
Taaooma continues to build her comedy brand alongside her ventures in food and cinematography. Her ability to sustain a niche built entirely around family and parenting themes, combined with her multi-role performance style, distinguishes her from other Nigerian skit makers whose content relies on rotating casts of collaborators.
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