Eniola Korty Olanrewaju affectionately known as Korty EO is a 24-year-old indie filmmaker, graphic designer, writer, content creator, videographer, artist and model, and most importantly a prolific YouTuber from Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria. Towing the line of culture archeology and sustaining a longevity that precedes the status of being a sensation she has not only conquered the bustling economic hub of Lagos but is well on her way to cementing herself as a status quo trendsetter of the African diaspora as a whole.
With her quirky, candid, and conversational nuance to storytelling and captivating B-roll shots of her hometown, she has instantaneously established herself as one of the fastest growing YouTube channels on the continent with almost 200,000 subscribers and over 7 million+ views in the space of a year since its inception. Korty’s YouTube channel sports two enthralling shows, Flow with Korty and Love or Lies.
Flow with Korty is a character-driven show that focuses on individual experiences of people engaging in activities of interest across various sectors. This show has featured prominent figures namely, Rema, Black Sheriff, Timi Ajiboye (Buycoins), Asa, Ayra Starr, Niyi Okeowo, and heart-warming episodes with everyday folk such as Rejoice, who was aptly coined Korty’s “11-year-old best friend”.
Love or Lies is an intimacy-driven show that explores the pursuits of love or lust among millennials and gen-z’s across different spheres around the world. Regardless of accomplishments such as giving a speech at Stanford University, being recognised by YouTube’s Up Next program, earning partnerships with Skillshare, Fenty, Spotify and other international companies, and inspiring a song by Afro-fusion star Buju on his debut EP ‘Sorry I’m Late’, the multihyphenate protégé is influential without claiming the influence career path.
Ahead of her plans to expand the regions, sub-cultures and documenting the complex nuance of her controversially coined “Woke Generation”, we caught up with her to chat about the origins of her film making, YouTube channel, her thoughts on the fast-rising prominence of the NFT digital economy and more.
Moziak: As an indie filmmaker, content creator and YouTuber, how do you manage to stay innovative and stand out from other creators in your space?
Korty: I just try to tell stories that are true to me, I’m not trying to be distinct or stand out.
Moziak: There are some labels you welcome and others that you do not identify with… How would you describe Korty?
Korty is a girl trying to learn and develop a new way of telling stories. Some people consider me a content creator, YouTuber, etc. and all these things are welcome. But my main goal is to make film. which will happen on my own terms.
Moziak: You have become a cultural staple filming the intricacies of where you are, primarily Nigeria. What are some countries and cultures of interest would you like to film in the near future?
Korty: I would just like to film my experiences in different parts of the world, I wanna be like a nomad with a camera and her gut. I am not the best at planning, so I mostly just let things happen.
Moziak: Evoking emotions such as peace and calm in filmmaking takes emotional intellect strengthened by self-care. What are some self-care practices that get you in a good headspace to create?
Korty: Yes, that’s very true. I realized I needed to take care of myself to make honest work. Because if my mind isn’t right, my work can’t be right. So, I’ve just learned that in order to make the kind of videos that actually help people, I need to put myself and my health first. I need to pause sometimes and let myself be present, I need to allow myself to feel every emotion and work my way through it all.
Moziak: Storytelling forms an intricate part of some of the work you do. Why is it important to you to be a storyteller in today’s age?
Korty: Our whole world survives on stories. People need stories to navigate life, understand themselves better, and learn or grow. If we don’t tell these stories, they become non-existent. So, a lot more people need to tell stories with their art because that’s all that’ll be left when we’re gone.
Moziak: The Web3, NFT, Metaverse economy is taking the world by storm, and stream-dependent creatives find this digital arena more lucrative than payouts from YouTube, Spotify, and the like. Do you have any plans of venturing into the digital economy?
Korty: Yes, but I never rush into these things until I fully understand them. I thought about starting a YouTube channel 2 years before I started, and I spent time trying to learn and understand how it works. So it’s a bit of the same thing with these new innovations.
Moziak: What are you currently reading?
Korty: I’m currently reading the Almanack of Naval Ravikant. I’ve read it before, but I recently started again. I love naval, he’s a genius.
Moziak: What song describes your country right now?
Korty: ‘God abeg o, who go help o’ – by Portable (I don’t think it’s a song that’s been released but it’s a sound by a Nigerian street artiste that’s stuck in my head)
Moziak: Complete the sentence. To Flow With Korty is to…
Korty: … be your true self
Connect with Korty EO:
Twitter: @korty_eo
Instagram: @korty_eo
Facebook: @korty_eo
TikTok: @korty eo
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kortyeo
