I Did Comedy For Myself, Not To Earn An Intellectual Tag’ — Layi Wasabi

AMVCA-winning skitmaker Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola, popularly known as Layi Wasabi, has disclosed that he never intended to build a reputation as an intellectual comedian, saying the label has placed enormous expectations on his creative process.

Speaking during an interview on the Joey Akan Experience podcast, the content creator explained that his journey into comedy began while performing stand-up routines in school, where encouragement from his peers convinced him that he had a natural talent for making people laugh.

According to reports, Wasabi said his style of comedy developed organically without any deliberate attempt to appear intellectual. He noted that audiences eventually classified his content as “intellectual comedy,” a description he neither sought nor planned for.

The comedian revealed that he initially created content purely for his own satisfaction before it gradually resonated with a wider audience. However, he admitted that the recognition has become a double-edged sword, describing the intellectual tag as both an honour and a burden.

He explained that the label often limits his creative freedom, as he now feels pressured to meet the expectations of an audience that anticipates a particular standard from his work. According to him, there are ideas he finds amusing but hesitates to explore because of concerns over how they might be received by fans who associate his brand with intellectual humour.

Wasabi further stated that maintaining the reputation requires significant effort behind the scenes, including extensive research, fact-checking and continuous learning to ensure his content remains fresh and relevant.

The law graduate added that creating seemingly effortless comedy demands a great deal of preparation, stressing the importance of constantly expanding his knowledge to avoid producing repetitive or stale material.

He also weighed in on the ongoing debate about whether skitmakers should be regarded as actors, disagreeing with filmmaker Daniel Etim’s view that skit creators are not actors. Wasabi argued that strong acting skills are fundamental to producing quality comedy skits, insisting that effective performance is a core requirement for success in the genre.