| Birth name | Emmanuel Kellam Olaniyan |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 27 November 1997 (age 28) |
| Birth place | South London, London, England |
| Education | BRIT School |
| Occupation | Presenter · Journalist |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Youtube id | UC9KE8OxJEccxen57RJ3rLQg |
| Youtube display name | EmanKellam |
| Youtube subscribers | 127 thousand |
| Youtube views | 16 million |
| Stats update | 8 August 2025 |
Emmanuel Kellam Olaniyan (born 27 November 1997) is a Nigerian-British media personality better known as Eman Kellam. He is best known for his presenting work and his webshows British Slang With Eman Kellam & Eman Kellam & Friends.
Personal life
Olaniyan was born and raised in South London, to parents of Nigerian origin. He attended Forest Hill School,[1] and then The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology where he studied Broadcasting and Digital Communications.[2]
Youth politics & engagement
In October 2013, Olaniyan was elected as the Young Mayor for the London Borough of Lewisham, representing young people across the borough.[3] He was elected with 2,867 first-preference votes and 1,007 second-preference votes a total of 3,867 votes the highest number ever recorded for an individual candidate in the programme’s history. [4]
Olaniyan’s manifesto focused on improving youth opportunities, expanding access to apprenticeships, enhancing sports facilities, promoting inclusion, and using social media to connect the council with young residents.[5] During his first term, he managed a £30,000 youth budget which funded performing-arts showcases and youth-led community projects.[4]
In 2015, Olaniyan was re-elected becoming the only person in the history of the programme to do so for a second term.[6] He secured 1,883 first-preference votes and 863 second-preference votes, giving a total of 2,746 votes. [6]
His second term prioritised youth safety, mental health and employment opportunities. Olaniyan and his youth advisors introduced a system of small community grants that allowed youth groups to bid for funding, and he worked with local police, faith organisations and charities to deliver violence-prevention and wellbeing programmes.[7]
Career
YouTube
Olaniyan started creating content on his YouTube channel "EmansBlogs" in 2012.[8] He created video blogs in his kitchen. In 2014 he uploaded his most viewed video, "Pranking My African Dad",[9] in which at 16 years old he pranked his father by telling him he had impregnated a 14-year-old girl.
This video has had over 500 million views across the internet (9 million on his YouTube channel as of April 2025) and has been discussed and shared across various platforms including WorldStarHipHop[10] and Bossip.[11]
Olaniyan and his father are often credited as key figures in African meme culture because their prank video has spawned several one liners that have been used in African music, comedy and films.[12]
French Montana collaboration
On 5 November 2016, French Montana released his album MC4 on the Apple Music show OVO Sound Radio.[13] The show was curated by Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib who founded OVO Sound radio with Drake.
Olaniyan and his father featured on the show via an intro skit on French Montana’s MC4 album entitled "Check Come". The skit was taken from Olaniyan's "Pranking My African Dad" video. [13]
Lifebabble, CBBC and BBC "Own It"
In January 2016, he appeared on the CBBC Channel on Lifebabble.[14][15]
In February 2018 Olaniyan appeared on the same channel 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.[16] 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".[17]
British Slang With Eman Kellam Series
Olaniyan produced the YouTube series British Slang With Eman Kellam, in which Kellam asked predominantly American actors to interpret slang commonly used by young people in the United Kingdom, often referred to as Multicultural London English (MLE). The series concluded on 24 November 2022. [18]
Celebrity guests include Gabrielle Union, Denzel Washington, Childish Gambino, Regina Hall, Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya and Issa Rae.[19]
Olaniyan has been given praise by Vogue Business for his "authentic style" in which audiences have gravitated towards across various different platforms.[20]
| Episode Number | Guest/s featured in Episode | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unge | 1 July 2015 |
| 2 | Ben Hardy, Tye Sheridan, and Alexandra Shipp | 24 May 2016 |
| 3 | Dave Franco | 8 August 2016 |
| 4 | Nathan Zed | 24 August 2016 |
| 5 | RJ Cyler, Dacre Montgomery, and Ludi Lin | 16 March 2017 |
| 6 | Becky G and Naomi Scott | 23 March 2017 |
| 7 | Kaya Scodelario and Brenton Thwaites | 24 May 2017 |
| 8 | Demetrius Shipp Jr. | 30 June 2017 |
| 9 | Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan | 25 July 2017 |
| 10 | Gabrielle Union and Ajiona Alexus | 6 May 2018 |
| 11 | Childish Gambino and Phoebe Waller-Bridge | 19 May 2018 |
| 12 | Denzel Washington | 11 August 2018 |
| 13 | Shameik Moore | 9 December 2018 |
| 14 | John Cena | 13 December 2018 |
| 15 | Zachary Levi | 22 March 2019 |
| 16 | Regina Hall, Issa Rae, and Marsai Martin | 7 April 2019 |
| 17 | Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith | 2 February 2020 |
| 18 | Keke Palmer | 19 June 2022 |
| 19 | Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer | 8 August 2022 |
| 20 | Gabrielle Union and Jaboukie Young-White | 24 November 2022 |
Eman Kellam & Friends
On 14 December 2024, after a 2 year hiatus, Olaniyan premiered a spinoff of his show "British Slang With Eman Kellam" on Tiktok & Instagram in which he hosts a chat with Hollywood actors & directors discussing film and culture released in short form snippets.
Episode 1 featured Aaron Pierre (actor) & Kelvin Harrison Jr. and was well received across social media.[21]
| Episode Number | Guest/s featured in Episode | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Pierre (actor) & Kelvin Harrison Jr. | 14 December 2024 |
| 2 | Wunmi Mosaku | 15 April 2025 |
| 3 | Michael B Jordan & Miles Caton | 16 April 2025 |
| 4 | Brendan Fraser & Hikari | 25 December 2025 |
| 5 | Michael Patrick King | 27 March 2026 |
| 6 | Spike Fearn & Angourie Rice | 19 May 2026 |
| 7 | Kane Parsons | 25 May 2026 |
Music career
2021
Olaniyan released his secret debut EP "For The Summer" on 10 June 2021.[22]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Will You Kill Me Now? | Toby | Short Film |
| 2017 | Action Point | Shorts (uncredited) | Feature Film |
| 2021 | Music, Trial & Trauma: The Movie | Producer | Short Film |
| 2024 | The Sidemen Story | (Himself) Cameo Appearance | Documentary |
| 2025 | Gone Clear | Verbaliser | Short Film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Right This Minute[23] | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2015 | The Xperiment | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2016 - 2018 | Lifebabble | Himself | 26 episodes |
| 2017 | Inglorious Pranksters | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2018 | BBC "Own It" | Himself | Team Own It Member |
| 2018 | CBBC Channel | Himself | Guest appearances |
| 2019 | All Over the Place | Himself | Series 9 |
| 2020 | Monday Night Football | Himself | Guest Appearance |
| 2022 | Unapologetic with Zeze Millz & Yinka Bokinni | Himself | Series 2, Episode 1 |
| 2023 | ITVx's Tell Me Everything You Know About | Himself | 3 Episodes |
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| For The Summer |
| - |
Songwriting credits
| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Check Come" | French Montana | Writer | MC4 (album)[13] |
References
- ^ Chandler, Mark (October 18, 2013). "Forest Hill's Emmanuel Olaniyan, 15, becomes Young Mayor of Lewisham". News Shopper. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Inside The BRIT School, Croydon's very own fame academy | Croydon Advertiser". www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Young Mayor of Lewisham 2013 Election Results". Lewisham Council. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Young Mayor Budget 2013–2014". Lewisham Council. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Young Mayor Hall of Fame – Emmanuel Olaniyan". Lewisham Young Mayor. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Young Mayor of Lewisham 2015 Election Results". Lewisham Council. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "New Young Mayor of Lewisham elected with record victory". East London Lines. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "EmanKellam". YouTube. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ PRANKING MY AFRICAN DAD | @EmanKellam. EmanKellam. 15 February 2014. Archived 25 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 December 2022. – via YouTube
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Instagram"
- ^ Richardson, Nikita (November 5, 2016). "French Montana Features "Pranking My African Dad" Video On MC4". The Fader. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Lifebabble - CBBC - BBC". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Lifebabble (TV Series 2016– )". Retrieved 7 October 2017. – via IMDb
- ^ "Own It - A place to help you boss your life online - Own It - BBC"
- ^ "Vogue 2021 Article". PubHTML. British Vogue.
- ^ "What is MLE? - Department of Language and Linguistic Science, University of York"
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSgmlsYiNCToEuI8QcsutavrWZoX7Ttihttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSgmlsYiNCToEuI8QcsutavrWZoX7Tti
- ^ "Instagram"
- ^ https://www.tiktok.com/@emankellam/video/7447948586286927137
- ^ "For the Summer". Spotify
- ^ "Pregnancy Prank Pushes Dad Over the Edge". rightthisminute.com. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
External links
- Eman Kellam at IMDb
- Eman Kellam on YouTube