"I Didn't Want to Be Taken as a Joke, So I Was Scared of Comedy" - Folagade Banks a.k.a Mama Deola

In this heartfelt and surprisingly humorous episode of Tea With Tay, Folagade Banks, widely known as Mama Deola joins Tay on the couch to share the story behind the wigs, the laughter, and the identity he nearly ran from.

Before the viral skits, before the signature sass of Mama Deola, Folagade was managing models, unsure of his path but certain that the life he was living wasn’t it. He opens up about the fear of not being taken seriously, the hesitation around pursuing comedy, and the moment he decided to stop waiting for permission and start showing up as himself.

But this episode goes far beyond the jokes. It’s a conversation about purpose, the quiet kind that creeps up on you. About trusting the whispers of your intuition, about grief, reinvention, and the courage to chase a version of yourself that doesn’t exist yet.

From model manager to skit maker, from unseen to unforgettable, this is Folagade Banks’ journey. Unfiltered, unexpected, and deeply moving.

If you've ever felt like your dreams make no sense on paper, or that your path looks nothing like anyone else's, this episode is your reminder that you're not lost, you're just becoming.

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