Sheifunmi
The internet is an all round blessing [well, with fewer curses] in addition to being the one and only place where one could anonymously reveal dirty secrets like SaharaReporters [don't say we called them anonymous], it gave us ‘LOL’, LMAO, smileys, Facebook, Twitter and easily accessible pornography. We love you, Internet but can guess god loves you more. You sure do keep our world interesting. The internet also gave us Seyifunmi Yusuf and we are grateful. Seyifunmi does the only creative thing left to do online. BLOGGING.
Blogging is become more than a hobby – ask Linda Ikeji, Nmachi Jidenma, Uduak Oduok, Uche Eze – Bella Naija, Ademola Ogundele – Mola G. In the course of blogging, Sheifunmi has crossed borders with the features/interviews as he has spoken to celebrities across continents from Simi Opeoluwa – a Nollywood director, Dy’ Ari – US based pop singer, Dwight Allen O’neal – Hollywood actor to Jennia Fredrique – a Hollywood actress.
Seyifunmi, who is best known as Sheifunmi is a gossip blogger and Nigerian, we were tempted to call him Nigeria’s Mario Lavandeira best known as Perez Hilton but Perez is tricky and with claims like the gay blogger [Perez] using his increasingly popular Internet platform to “out” celebrities he believed to be gay and in the closet, he halt the comparison and that comparison should be nailed, we spoke to him about it though.
On a serious note, The Connecticut, USA based youngster is the creator and writer of one of the popular Celebrity gossip and Entertainment website, Sheifunmi.com and might also surprise you that he is a very positive and very religious – ‘SOLD OUT TO CHRIST’.
The blogger started as an actor in high school/post primary. Before he ventured into the art of blogging, he was the RED ALERT show host on Babcock University FM which he combined with his internet video blog/show on Youtube called SHEIFUNMI SHOW. Sheifunmi who is majoring in Media arts started celebrity news and gossip reporting while he was still in Nigeria studying English and Creative Art at the Babcock University. Read excerpt and it was done online.
How would you introduce yourself to a website like ours that gets 1.6 million hits monthly [smiling]?
Lol, I am a media personality, a celebrity reporter and blogger.
Tell me about your early and personal life – Background?
Well this, it depends on what you want to know. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, was raised in Nigeria went to primary school and high school in Lagos.. Hmmmn.. Started media from high school and ever since then I’ve been living it up till now.
What do you think of Perez Hilton?
Perez is cool, but he has his moments.. Perez is of two personalities, he has the pervert side and the normal side like other human beings. I think he is cool.
What would you say to your comparison with Perez hilton?
Wait what?? Lol… I don’t think there is that much comparison, oh well I’d say we both gossip.. Loool
What do you think of Nigeria Celebrity reporting?
Wow.. Not so much on that because Nigeria is growing to the international level media wise. Major thing is when you get a news/article from a source about a celebrity, do your research first and don’t just report with out doing an investigation, aside that we are good to go.
What differences between the American and Nigerian or African celebrity scenes have you noticed?
Hmmm like I said we are growing and getting to the international level. Incase you don’t know, Naija is the new hollywood so I don’t have much to say except for the redcarpet events, appearance, outfits, attitude of celebs hmmn not so graceful.
When and How did the idea for sheifunmi.net hit you?
Correction, it is sheifunmi.com , sheifunmi.net is just another domain name that takes you to sheifunmi.com. Well the whole gossip blogging and celebrity reporting is something that has been going on for years, started the whole concept as a radio show “Red Alert” which was on Babcock Univeristy Fm, ogun state and I was always talking about what is going on in school, gossips and celebrity news and at time calling celebrities to play pranks, also there was a gossip board right infront of the admin blog, I was always writing gossips and all that went down in school every week. I stopped for a while when I got back in the states and started meeting people, I was like I need something to do and I decided to go back to writing gossips and stalking celebrities.
Why do you think we’re obsessed with celebrities? or don’t you think Nigerians are obsessed with celebs?
Yeah I noticed some fans out there are star strucked which is a good thing because we are appreciating our own talents, artists, our product but it gets all extreme when celebrities get overwhelmed that they loose their humility.
How much time do you actually spend in front of a computer in a day? Do you blog by yourself?
I’m always by my computer, my phones to update and yes I blog myself, I never allow anyone do it for me.
What kinds of sources do you use when getting your celeb tips?
Go out and seek for news, know what is going on out there, get connected, when you get a story make phone calls, investigate, that is how I do it.
Have you ever regretted a post/story?
Yes, I lost a friend to that but I forgave myself and accepted because that is what I get for the job I do.. But for today I don’t have any regrets
Have you ever decided not to post about your a friend?
No! Really I careless, work is work.
Is there anything you won’t make fun of?
People’s death, I’ll never joke about that and one I announce a celeb’s death on my blog, every new pertaining to that celeb ends there.
Who is your favourite celeb?
I don’t have any, I have a few celebrity friends but none is my favorite.
What is in the pipeline for you?
A lot of projects coming, I’ll like to seal my lips now and when it’s time I’ll announce them.
- Follow @Sheifunmi on twitter
