‘I like to go on a shirt and trousers’

Aloma Isaac Junior, popularly known as Zicsaloma, has become an Instagram sensation serenading online followers with dramatic comedy skits displaying various female characters.

The northern Nigeria-born comedian, who grew up in the barracks, is also passionate about music and has been on The Voice, Nigeria, a television music competition.

He had his secondary education in the Airforce Secondary School, Kaduna and was admitted to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria for a two-year diploma programme in Law. Afterwards, Zicsaloma proceeded to Abia State University where he bagged a degree, Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature, and served his country under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Kaduna Polytechnic. He was retained as an assistant lecturer in the polytechnic.

He speaks to IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA on his comedy skits and life.

Share with us your growing up?
I was born at the Airforce base Kaduna. My dad was a retired Airforce officer. I have four elder brothers and a younger sister. I had my primary and secondary education in Kaduna.

Tell us how your characters as Mama Desperate, Sister Ekwitos or Mama Amazing Grace started?
Sister Ekwitos was one of my earliest characters. It was a character I brought out from my experiences as a ‘Church boy’. Sister Ekwitos is the judgmental religious sister who sees everyone around her as unholy. My other character – Mama Amazing Grace – portrays the experience of an everyday market woman. The character, Mama Desperate, is a pregnant woman who does not joke with food and she is known for causing problems everywhere she goes. I also have more characters like Bro Chukwudi, Angelica, Bridget, Endurance, and Ireti.

What project are you currently working on? I am presently working on my first movie. It would be the first of its kind and it would feature many stars. I would keep the details as a surprise.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?
I like to go on a shirt and trousers. I like to dress simple.

Who are your style icons?
I would say someone like Ebuka Obi-Uchedu. I regularly go on his page to steal concepts. I can then say he is my style icon.

Who are your role models?
My role models are many but I would mention a few and the reasons I like them. I like Brodashaggy because he is very hardworking. He is one of the biggest comedians in Nigeria but he shoots as if he is just starting up. I also like Mr. Macaroni because he is very focused and hardworking. I like Tundeednut because he makes life easier for upcoming talents. I can comfortably call these people I mentioned my role models.

What’s your favourite local dish?
My favourite local dish is pounded yam and Ogbono soup. I like it served with goat meat.

What is your most cherished possession?
I think my most cherished possessions are the gifts God gave me; the gifts of acting, singing, writing etc.

What is your most expensive item?
My most expensive item should be in my real estate investment.

Share with us your happiest moment?
It should be when I started going viral on the Internet. This is something I have worked hard and dreamed about for about 10 years. It came to reality during the lockdown when I had enough time with tiktok. I was regularly on the app and it gave me viral videos. Here we are today.

What inspires you?
My environment is of great inspiration to me. I am highly observant, so I get most of my inspirations from my everyday life – things I hear and experience.

What are your turn offs?
A major turn off, for me, is being around lazy people. I do not like people who procrastinate and drag me back. It’s a major turn off for me.

What is your turn on?
On the other hand, I like hardworking and focused people. I do not hesitate to encourage and help people whom I perceive as hardworking and focused.

Who’s your favourite designer?
Gucci.

Describe yourself in three words?
Persistent, hardworking, strategic.

What are your hobbies?
Hanging out with friends to eat catfish and, maybe, goat meat. I also love to swim, sing, travel and meet new people who are smart and ambitious.

What is your philosophy of life?
Good things of life hardly come easy. You have to sow today so you can harvest tomorrow.

If you were given an opportunity to change Nigeria, what will you do?
I would change the generation in government to a younger generation and set structures to hold every leader accountable for anything that goes wrong under their leadership.