Known as The Abisola, Abisola Da-Silva is a chef and lifestyle influencer who has amassed 259,000 followers on Instagram. During an interview conducted by Faith Ajayi, she shares insights into transitioning from journalism to becoming a content producer and discusses transforming her passion for cooking into a successful profession.
How has your schooling shaped who you are as a person?
I am Abisola Dasilva, referred to as The Abisola. I earned my degree from the University of Ibadan, majoring in English and Literature. Previously, I worked as a multimedia journalist, but later shifted towards content development. Engaging in content creation felt instinctive following nearly five years spent as a reporter. Ultimately, I made the move to focus entirely on content creation.
What was the key moment that led you to start creating content?
Working as a journalist, I integrated content creation into my professional role. During my time at The Guardian, I began producing lifestyle-related content, which initially served as a side interest. I engaged in it purely for enjoyment, yet over time, I managed to build an audience through social media platforms.
At first, I began creating content as a secondary activity during my free time when I wasn't employed. This was comparable to the type of work I had done as a reporter. Social media turned out to be an important channel for me, and I came to understand that I was building a community, which ultimately grew to include 50,000 followers.
Following several years with The Guardian, I transitioned to Africa Check. I worked from a distance, allowing me the chance to produce additional material and see my community expand.
Eventually, producing content grew increasingly exhausting, forcing me to decide between my day job and dedicating myself fully to content development. I opted for content creation.
You mentioned that you were creating content along with your job. When did you start feeling confident about using social media?
During my time as a multimedia reporter, I contributed to both printed and digital platforms, directed documentary projects, and developed television programs. Once written for print, all material was later shared on social media. With assistance from my coworkers, I became familiar with social media analytics. Even though I focused on content creation, another group managed the social media aspects, allowing me to collaborate with them in planning strategies aimed at increasing interaction. This exposure ignited my passion for social media.
I also posted lifestyle-related material on my personal account. By creating videos, I gained knowledge about camera positions, which contributed to expanding my online presence. Initially, I didn't do this with the intention of building a profession; I just aimed to remain engaged on social platforms.
Even though your focus is on lifestyle and food topics, could you share what you originally began with?
I began by exploring eateries. If you look further down my profile, you'll notice that I used to photograph dishes and post them online. My artistic culinary content truly took off during the pandemic.
I incorporated it into journalism by posting photos from events I participated in. However, during the pandemic, venturing outside was not an option. To be honest, I aimed to concentrate more on lifestyle and travel-related content. I've had a passion for cooking all along, and as time passed, my family and friends urged me to begin showcasing my meals online. I started sharing them, and the response was favorable.
Friends requested additional material, and several fans attempted my dishes, leaving positive comments. I was merging aspects of life and culinary blogging, and later understood that the cooking-related posts generated greater interaction. I appreciated the responses and chose to focus entirely on this area.
Did you work as a cook or receive any formal cooking education back then?
No, I hadn't received official training at first. Eventually, I chose to approach it more seriously and joined a cooking academy. I've since completed studies at two culinary institutions; the first one in 2023, following my decision to commit fully to this path, and the second in July of this year to enhance my expertise in baking.
Much of my understanding of cooking was learned at home. Since my mother and sisters work as caterers, every person in our household essentially functions as a chef. My younger sibling is now attending culinary school. All the initial knowledge I had was gained from my mother and the individuals I encountered throughout my journey. Attending culinary school allowed me to strengthen my base, and I kept learning on my own while developing my abilities over time.
What do you think sets your culinary content apart in the online world?
Many people say my material is easy to connect with and straightforward. My cooking instructions are basic enough for everyone to try, and those watching grasp precisely what I'm showing them. This is truly something I feel confident about.
I don't pursue popularity by mixing unrelated elements haphazardly. I exclusively present dishes I'm certain about. Should I attempt something that fails to meet my expectations, I will not publish it. To me, if I wouldn't consume it personally, I can't reasonably ask anyone else to.
This is why individuals who attempt my recipes achieve precisely the outcomes I guarantee. Excellence and genuine flavor distinguish my material.
In what ways has your journey as a content producer changed since you first began?
It has been difficult. Some days I think about returning to a traditional office job since each new update makes the system quite annoying. Although I encounter numerous obstacles, I'm constantly seeking methods to enhance my performance.
Occasionally, it seems as though I'm involved in a harmful connection with the algorithm, yet we remain bound to each other.
It can be quite overwhelming. Some days, I question whether I'll keep going, yet there's an inner motivation that keeps urging me ahead, and before long, I'm back at it. We will carry on; we won't surrender. This situation is common for every content producer: one morning, they find themselves facing a fresh trend or rule, leaving them with no option but to adjust.
For instance, during a time on Facebook when Reels were underperforming, we began taking screenshots of recipe videos and posting them instead. I needed to change my approach since current platform features are now thriving on social media. You must adjust according to what the algorithm presents. I continue to grow because quitting isn't a choice.
What are some additional difficulties you encounter as someone who creates content?
Occasionally, your internet connection may fail without warning. Power outages, along with various everyday problems that people in Nigeria encounter regularly, might impact your productivity. Regardless of whether you're involved in content creation or not, such disruptions can interfere with your professional tasks.
A further difficulty lies in identifying suitable individuals to collaborate with. Although you might possess your own aspirations and enthusiasm, locating others who comprehend and share your perspective can prove challenging.
What steps do you take when facing these difficulties?
I consistently make an effort to reassess strategies. I return to basics and determine the most effective method for every scenario. When the issue involves the Internet, I seek ways to resolve it. For staffing problems, I concentrate on educating and re-educating my staff. In the long run, I have come to understand that some individuals will support your goals, whereas others might not.
If an individual is not on track, and I don't wish for the project to be compromised, occasionally the most effective choice is to part ways and introduce fresh talent. At other times, I take charge of the tasks personally.
Prolonged experience has shown me that locating individuals who share my level of determination and dedication can be challenging at times. When faced with these situations, I continuously reassess and modify my approach to maintain forward momentum.
What strategies do you use when facing a lack of creativity or periods where ideas aren't flowing?
Burnout is real, and there are moments when you find yourself unable to move forward. Usually, I connect with fellow content creators experiencing the same difficulties.
We exchange thoughts and engage in collaborative thinking, and simply having these discussions encourages creativity. I communicate frequently with two or three individuals for this reason. We discuss topics, and soon after, a fresh concept arises.
Occasionally, all it takes is pausing for a moment and browsing through social networking sites. Creativity tends to emerge like this. I consistently remember to jot down each thought in a digital notepad on my mobile device and come back to review them at another time to experiment with them.
What drives your continued creativity?
Thinking about where I began and how much progress I've made helps maintain my drive. Seeing that each day improves upon the previous one encourages me to continue forward.
Have you ever encountered negative comments on the internet?
Certainly, I've encountered numerous negative experiences on the internet. Sometimes, individuals make harmful remarks. Occasionally, I dismiss them with laughter, but at other moments, they truly impact me. I recall one morning when I woke up to a comment that profoundly distressed me—it also attacked my family. On that particular day, I felt wounded and genuinely cried. My sister noticed the comment and reached out to see how I was doing.
Gradually, I have become more resilient. These days, when individuals post negative remarks, I just let them go. Their attempts at provocation do not hinder my creative process. Although some readers in my comments support me, I remain concentrated on my tasks.
Are you considering expanding your role past content creation should an opportunity present itself?
Certainly, I have plans to expand beyond content production. I aim to launch my own food-related venture shortly. Currently, I manage it on a private basis alongside other activities, but I wish to bring it into the main stream. Additionally, I'm looking into providing catered services for events, rather than only offering home delivery. My passion for organizing events stems from my experience at Africa Check, where I served as a project coordinator.
I aim to merge my passion for culinary arts with event planning and lifestyle topics. My objective is to grow into a more comprehensive lifestyle platform, extending beyond food preparation and recipe-sharing on the internet.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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