# Eman Kellam

Emmanuel Kellam Olaniyan (born 27 November 1997) is a Nigerian-British comedian, media personality and television host better known as Eman Kellam. He is best known for his presenting work 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 at 16 years old he pranked his father by telling him 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 500 Million views across the internet (8.8 Million on his YouTube channel as of January 2025) and has been discussed and shared across various platforms including WorldStarHipHop and Bossip.
Olaniyan and his father are often credited as key figures in African meme culture as their infamous prank video has spawned several one liners that have been used across African music, comedy and films.

### 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.

### Lifebabble, CBBC and BBC "Own It"

In January 2016, he appeared on the CBBC Channel as Lifebabble talent on the Scottish BAFTA award nominated show Lifebabble.
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 linguistics commonly used by youth in the United Kingdom. ("Multicultural London English") also known as MLE.
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.
Olaniyan has been given praise by Vogue Business for his "authentic style" in which audiences have gravitated towards across various different platforms.

### British Slang with Eman Kellam

British Slang With Eman Kellam - Episode List' :
| 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 December 14th 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 released in short form snippets.
Episode 1 featured Aaron Pierre (actor) & Kelvin Harrison Jr. and was well received across social media.
Eman Kellam & Friends - Episode List :
| Episode Number | Guest/s featured in Episode | Release Date |
| 1 | Aaron Pierre (actor) & Kelvin Harrison Jr. | 14 December 2024 |

## Music career
### 2021

Olaniyan released his secret debut EP "For The Summer" on 10 June 2021.

## 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 |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Right This Minute | 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 |
| Title | Details | UK | Certifications |
| For The Summer | Released: 10 June 2021 Label: Independent Format: Streaming, digital download | - | |

## Songwriting credits

| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Album |
| 2016 | "Check Come" | French Montana | Writer | MC4 (album) |