Starting in the 2010s, podcasting in Nigeria has become a form of storytelling in mainstream media with titles such as I said what I said, F&S Uncensored, Considered the beginning of some mainstream work involving social commentary and Nigerian pop culture. It’s Coming Not only captured the zeitgeist but also built community across various media such as music and cultural commentary. here, My best friend, Webb, (Inspired by the titles of Isekai light novels, which are often descriptive and lengthy) Hosted by two best friends, Deola Adebiyi and Kosy Diamonda, it leverages the growing influence of podcasts to reach a more digitally inclined audience while carving out an otaku media niche in Nigeria.
My best friend, Webb The story begins in 2023. Before that, the two friends worked at Bamboo, a fintech company in Nigeria, where they both spent time talking about anime.
“We bonded just over talking about anime. “ Corsi recalled: “Then one day, Deola’s work manager suggested we start an anime-centric podcast. Deora and I laughed it off, but we started thinking about it. Deola then met someone who works at Eggcorn, an independent creative marketing agency specializing in online creation, social content and e-commerce growth, we discussed the podcast with them and the rest is history”.
With over 28 episodes across both seasons, over 1,000 plays on Spotify and 156 followers, the two best friends have invited guest artists including Nigerian Afrobeat artists such as Ladipo and Elesti, Interview with a cosplayer, Drunk anime quiztalked about their Favorite anime song, anime villainshared some unfiltered opinions Jujutsu Kaisen, and various other things. The podcast’s reception felt uncertain at first, but community events centered around real-life anime helped the co-hosts meet more listeners and introduce them to a larger potential audience.
“It was difficult to determine the response to the show at first, until we started going to anime events where we had a booth and people would recognize us, and at these events we also made sure to talk about the podcast – as a way to get more people to know about it,” Deora explained.
Like others, Deora and Cosi’s admiration for Japanese comics began at different points in their lives. For Deola, her first exposure to anime was in college, where she watched films such as bleach and Rebel Ruth Via informal download. Corsi, for her part, also participated informally—watching, for example, Naruto and bleach On DVD.
In the 2010s, when anime was not popular on cable TV, young people could also watch Japanese anime on DVD. However, the only drawback is that most of the DVD content is pirated and is troublesome to maintain; for example, a five-season show can be divided into ten seasons. This is part of Cosey Diamond’s reality.
“Most of the animations I watched at that time were of poor quality because they were mostly pirated and some plots were always inconsistent. In the end you would find that you had lost good parts.” Diamonda lamented.
At present, anime media has become increasingly digitized, with the emergence of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Tubi, RetroCrush, and Crunchyroll. In Nigeria, some platforms are unavailable, have paywalls, or require the use of third-party apps. However, the two co-hosts are still figuring out how to fully make the transition, given Deora and Cosi’s informal backgrounds in interacting with anime.
“I watched anime my whole life and had to find other ways to access anime, relying on pirated content, hard drives and getting anime from friends of friends. So it was very difficult, even though I knew I needed to make that switch because I couldn’t host an anime podcast that talked about anime and I wasn’t going to pay for it. I really needed to make that change,” Deola explained.
The two co-hosts also agreed that bolder anime access infrastructure, especially legal streaming platforms and even anime distribution pipelines, would go a long way in shaping the Nigerian anime community. Beyond cultural differences and Nigeria’s deteriorating economy, Deora also shared how the anime community has grown.
“There is so much talent and creativity in the anime community, especially when it comes to cosplay. Every time I go to an anime event, it’s bigger than the last.
“However, as an audience, we need structure because I believe that if there is a proper structure in place, the community here has a chance of attracting animation companies who may eventually invest and grow the community even bigger.”
Some reflection questions I asked during the interview.
If you could invite any fictional character from any anime to a podcast, who would it be?
Corsi: I am thinking of two people now: the first guest is from Black four leaf clover. I hope she’s on the podcast just because of her fiery energy and that everyone watches the podcast because of her.
The second fictional character I have as a podcast guest is from Kotaro Kotaro lives alone, This is simply because he is an unusual character.
Deola: For me, that’s Eren Yeager attack on titan, Since everyone has their own opinion on why he does what he does, I think it would be good for him to have a platform like a podcast to share his opinions.
The second person is innocent InuYasha, He would be a fun guest on the podcast.
If you had to introduce an anime to a skeptical Nigerian parent or older relative, which anime would you choose? How would you explain it to them?
Corsi: I would recommend a fun anime that revolves around teamwork and has a lot of exaggeration and I would be like, These are the things children are watching recently Also probably the most soap opera-style anime with an adult cast. Deola can help elaborate further.
Deola: For me, there are two to three shows that I would recommend, so for example, if I wanted to introduce an anime to my mom or my aunt, I would choose Pharmacist’s Diary. This is the story of a girl solving a mystery and it definitely has a soap opera vibe to it.
I also want to recommend Orb: On the Movement of the Earth. I think an older uncle would enjoy it as it has some themes about education and history. However, if I were to recommend something that is more light-hearted, fun, and has an interesting plot, I would say baccano, This is suitable for anyone looking for a challenge.