Misplaced Pages

Eman Kellam
Olaniyan in 2020
Born	Emmanuel Kellam Olaniyan (1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 (age 27) South London, London, England
Education	BRIT School
Occupations	TV presenter YouTuber
Years active	2012–present
YouTube information
Channel	EmanKellam
Subscribers	124,000
Total views	15.8 Million
Creator Awards 100,000 subscribers 2020
Last updated: 18 February 2024

Emmanuel Kellam Olaniyan (born 27 November 1997) is a Nigerian-British television presenter and YouTube personality better known as Eman Kellam. He is best known for his presenting work for CBBC, MTV, BET International and his own YouTube web show British Slang With Eman Kellam.

Personal life

Olaniyan was born and raised in South London, to parents of Nigerian origin. He attended Forest Hill School. and then The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology where he studied Broadcasting and Digital Communications.

Career

YouTube

Olaniyan started creating content on his YouTube channel "EmansBlogs" in 2012. He started creating video blogs in his kitchen discussing topics that were popular and relevant at that point in time. It was not, however, until 2014 when he uploaded his most viewed video, "Pranking My African Dad", in which he told his father that he had impregnated a 14-year-old girl, that his channel went viral and started to pick up speed and gain subscribers. This video has had over 8 million views as of August 2021 and has been discussed and shared across various platforms including WorldStarHipHop and Bossip. In January 2016, he appeared on the CBBC Channel as Lifebabble talent on the Scottish BAFTA award nominated show Lifebabble.

French Montana collaboration

On 5 November 2016, French Montana premiered his highly anticipated album MC4 on the Apple Music show OVO Sound Radio. The show was curated by Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib who founded OVO Sound radio with multi award-winning artist Drake.

Olaniyan and his father featured on the show in a intro skit on MC4 called "Check Come". The skit was taken from Olaniyan's infamous "Pranking My African Dad" video.

CBBC and BBC "Own It"

In February 2018 Olaniyan appeared on The CBBC Channel in the United Kingdom as a guest presenter to promote "BBC Own It", a new online learning resource commissioned by the BBC aimed at 9-12 year olds. Covering a range of topics that would relate to children growing up in the digital age. Own It launched nationally on Tuesday 7 February 2018. He then made several guest presenting appearances on the channel along with featuring in other CBBC shows.

YouTube Black Voices

In January 2021 YouTube announced the international list of creators of the inaugural YouTube Black Voices Class of 2021, of which Olaniyan was a UK class member .

Some members of the class of 2021 were also featured in the September 2021 issue of British Vogue in which Olaniyan was also included. Quote from British Vogue feature "As YouTube expands its diverse community, the Class of 2021 are the new figureheads in the making to follow. Prepare to watch those featured here go stratospheric".

TikTok's "One's To Watch"

In October 2024 TikTok announced their list of "Creators To Watch" for Black History Month 2024 in which Olaniyan was listed as one of eight.

Quote from TikTok "From history and fashion, to food and comedy, #BlackTikTok encompasses the diversity and trendsetting creativity of Black culture on TikTok, and demonstrates how Black creators continue to influence mainstream culture and shape industries.

Take a look at some of the talented Ones To Watch this October, who are using their creativity to celebrate, honour and shape Black culture and history."

British Slang With Celebrities Series

Olaniyan is also known for his "British Slang With Eman Kellam" series on his YouTube channel. In which he asks predominantly American actors to try and figure out the meaning of a slang word commonly used by youth in the United Kingdom. Celebrity guests who have featured include Gabrielle Union, Denzel Washington, Childish Gambino, Regina Hall, Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya and Golden Globe Award nominated actress and creator of HBO's Insecure, Issa Rae.

Music career

2021

Olaniyan released his secret debut EP "For The Summer" on 10 June 2021. Speaking via Instagram he said "I remember going on tour with Lotto Boyzz in 2017 and seeing how much they loved making music. I was only hosting for them back then, but seeing the passion really inspired me to want to take music seriously. It's been a long time coming. Music is one of the things I love the most."

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Extended plays

Songwriting credits

References

1. ^ "About EmanKellam". YouTube.
2. Chandler, Mark (18 October 2013). "Forest Hill's Emmanuel Olaniyan, 15, becomes Young Mayor of Lewisham". News Shopper. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
3. "Inside The BRIT School, Croydon's very own fame academy | Croydon Advertiser". www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014.
4. "EmanKellam". YouTube. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
5. PRANKING MY AFRICAN DAD | @EmanKellam. EmanKellam. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via YouTube.
6. "LOOOL: African Father Was Ready To Beat The Shxt Out Of His Son During This Prank! You Will H'end Up In Mcdonass". WorldStarHipHop. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
7. "African Dad Prank: Son Says He Got A 14-Yr-Old White Girl Pregnant "Aabo Wa… Oh, My Days Jesus!" [Video]". Bossip. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
8. "Lifebabble - CBBC - BBC". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
9. "Lifebabble (TV Series 2016– )". Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via IMDb.
10. ^ Richardson, Nikita (5 November 2016). "French Montana Features "Pranking My African Dad" Video On MC4". The Fader. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
11. "Own It - A place to help you boss your life online - Own It - BBC".
12. https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/celebrating-black-history-month-on-tiktok-uk
13. "Pregnancy Prank Pushes Dad Over the Edge". rightthisminute.com. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2017.

External links

• Eman Kellam at IMDb
• Eman Kellam's channel on YouTube

• 1997 births
• Living people
• Male actors from London
• 21st-century English male actors
• English people of Nigerian descent
• People from Lewisham
• People educated at Forest Hill School
• English male film actors
• Black British male actors
• Black British television personalities
• YouTubers from London