Nigerian content creator and skit maker, Oluwadolarz, has opened up about how his stage name, which he first adopted in 2010, has led to a series of misconceptions about his character and reputation. In an honest and revealing interview on the Open Up Podcast, Oluwadolarz shared the story behind his name and how it inadvertently sparked rumors of involvement in fraudulent activities.
The comedian, whose real name is Olamide Ogunleye, explained that his iconic stage name began as a playful reference to his stand-up comedy routine. In 2010, he cracked a joke about the fluctuating value of the dollar against the Nigerian naira. The joke caught the attention of his audience, and soon after, people started calling him “Dolarz” – a nickname that stuck thanks to its connection to the memorable punchline.
However, the name, while humorous at first, soon led to a number of unintended consequences. Oluwadolarz admitted that many began to associate his stage name with fraudulent activity, especially the term “Yahoo boy,” a colloquial reference to internet scammers in Nigeria. As a result, some brands hesitated to collaborate with him, fearing the negative associations tied to his name.
“My stage name started with ‘Dolarz’ in 2010 when I was doing stand-up comedy. People started calling me ‘Dolarz’ because of a joke I made about the dollar rising and falling at that time,” he explained. “Whenever people are with me, they forget my real name and just call me ‘Dolarz’ because that’s the joke they remember.”
To clarify the situation and distance himself from the negative connotations, Oluwadolarz incorporated a new phrase into his persona around 2014 – “Oluwa is involved,” which he would reply whenever someone called him “Dolarz.” This playful addition led to the full moniker “Oluwadolarz.”
Despite his efforts to explain the origin of his name, the misconceptions continued to persist, and some brands and individuals were still reluctant to work with him. “A lot of people thought I was just a Yahoo boy trying to cover up with comedy,” he said. “So, I had to start explaining the true meaning of my name.”
Oluwadolarz’s candid revelations come at a time when his personal life has also been making headlines. Recently, his estranged fiancée, Ifeluv, accused him of infidelity and financial neglect, which led to the end of their engagement.
