I met Zangar, LordRazak and Kofi The Creator. And He Has Never Had Creative Blocks

My Creator's Story: The Multi-faceted Creative Edition (EP02)

There are ingenious creatives who have fought hard to pursue their passion regardless of the odds against them. They believe highly in themselves and that nothing in the world will stop them from achieving their goals. Meet Biobaku Eniola Abdulrasaq, popularly called ZANGAR, the multi-faceted creative who juggled being an engineering student with his shoe and filmmaking brands.

How did he do it? Well, let's take a walk into his Creator's Story.

Damdam: Many people know you as Zangar. But how would you introduce and describe yourself?

Biobaku Eniola: I'm a special being, I believe. Everything about me is not ordinary, the way I look, the way I talk, the way I do my things. I'm just a special being who enjoys creating for his existence's sake.

Damdam: That's some crazy description.

Zangar: (laughs) Let's just say crazy and weird.

Damdam: What initially drew you to shoemaking?

Biobaku Eniola: I did not have money for a laptop (chuckles)

Damdam: What?

Biobaku Eniola: I did not have money for a laptop, so I learned shoemaking. You know how you are done with secondary school and want to delve into programming and other stuff like that. But my mom told me to wait for a year…and looking back, there was a time when Gucci sandals were popular. Then I thought, "This sandal dem make am for Nigeria o, why dem dey put Gucci on am?" So, that was one of the moments that pushed me to start.

And when I started doing my shit, it was up from there. When I told my mom about my interest in shoemaking, she questioned my thought process—a typical African parent's notion. But that was how I started my shoemaking brand, ZANGAR in 2017, in July or early August.

Credit:@zangar_ng

Damdam: Wow, that's a long time ago.

Biobaku Eniola: Yeah, a very long o.

Damdam: How did you transition to other fields like filmmaking and strategy? What were some key moments in that process?

LordRazak on duty

Biobaku Eniola: hmm, for filmmaking, I've always wanted to shoot videos and tell stories. 'cause when I was in secondary school, I used to write books. Then, there was a particular day I gave a filmmaker an idea about telling Made in Nigeria stories back then. But instead, he told me I was looking for free work. So, I was vexed and went on to learn filmmaking myself. And I've been learning it since, like, 2021 or 2022.

But before then, I'm a fan of YouTube. I'd rather watch music videos than listen to music. So, it was a no-brainer for me to do filmmaking because I'm more of a video person.

Damdam: I'm aware that you read books a lot. Has it always been a thing?

Biobaku Eniola: Yeah, I do. Before, I wasn't much of a reader. I'd rather watch a documentary. But I don't know if you know Cranium X. That's the person who made me start reading, from e-books to buying my hard copies myself, and it's been nonstop from there.

Damdam: Any particular book(s) that has changed your life?

Biobaku Eniola: "Ego Is The Only Way." "Dotcom Secrets", "Compound Effects", "The 5 AM Club", and "Atomic Habits"

Atomic Habits

Damdam: Also, I love how you've been able to create distinct brands for each of your works. How did that happen?

Biobaku Eniola: I think it was around 2021; everything that revolved around me was Zangar, Zangar, Zangar. Whenever I woke up, I would post shoes...it started to feel like I didn't have anything else. So, from there, I think I had a few of my friends who called me Eniola. But I started getting more intentional about who I wanted to become. So from here, I told myself, "Bro, this thing has to exist without you." And that was how I was able to build different personalities.

Damdam: That's really creative. Has it ever crossed your mind to drop one for another?

Biobaku Eniola: Today. (chuckles) Today and yesterday. Do you know why?

Damdam: Why?

Biobaku Eniola: For my type of videos, if you check closely, they are narrative. And that takes a while to produce. Imagine putting an 8-hour event into 2 minutes. So yesterday, for instance, a customer was trying to reach me, and I kept him pending. This morning, we fought and settled. It's not that I couldn't reply to the customer, but I don't want anything to interfere with what's happening in my head.

Damdam: In the future, would you have one brand? Or if you had to choose, what would it be?

Biobaku Eniola: The thing is, at the end of the day, everything is intertwined. I'll explain. I'm still upcoming for now, but when I eventually get there, I'm pretty sure I'd style the person when I'm shooting a video. The person will wear my products. So it's intertwined.

Credit: @zangar_ng

Damdam: What are some of your biggest challenges in balancing these different roles?

Biobaku Eniola: Argh, every order is a challenge o. But one, (production) time. Two, when it's Made in Nigeria, it's difficult to tell people your price because it can be expensive to them. I've always wanted to be unique, and most of my shoe designs are unique. Being unique is priceless; there's no money that you can put into it. It's not like I don't want to sell my shoes to everybody, but the exact people I want to wear my brand... I'm not yet there, so reaching out to them is an everyday challenge. 'Bombing' celebrities', you know, the rejections. But you just have to keep going. Those are part of the challenges.

However, the major challenge is the availability of materials. Imagine making a design; another customer wants the same, but they no longer make such material. So you could literally start losing customers.

Damdam: Can you describe a moment that was particularly rewarding for you?

Biobaku Eniola: Number one! Omo, when TG Omori first buzzed me. I met him in October 2020.

TG Omori wearing a Zangar footwear

Damdam: How was the feeling?

Biobaku Eniola: Omo, e jig o. I even met Blaqbonez at TG's house that day. That was what I was saying about the kind of people I want wearing my stuff. Getting there made me realize that, bro, you'r e bad.

Damdam: Even after TG Omori, you've had several celebrities wear your brand.

Biobaku Eniola: Joeboy, Bella Shmurda, Zlatan, Oxlade, Rexxie... I think about when Wale Diamonds called me to work for Bella; that was when I started working properly in the industry. I was working with stylists, and they used my shoes for music videos with Naya Effectz.

I was literally staying in his place, sleeping there, coming to Abeokuta to school and going back. That was one turning point for my mentality when I met Wale Diamonds, who introduced me to Naya Effectz and co. in 2021.

Damdam: How did meeting Wale Diamonds happen?

Biobaku Eniola: I don dey bomb am before, say if any work dey. You know how to tell people what you can offer in case they need your services. That's how he called me. I think that was for Bella Shmurda's 'Rush' music video.

Bella Shmurda on Zangar Boot on ‘Rush' Video

And on the set, I saw how people were famzing celebs. I told myself I didn't want to be part of them. But that was when I started creating crazy shoe designs.

Damdam: I can imagine your excitement when you saw your shoes on TV.

Biobaku Eniola: Brooo, brazyy AF. I also worked with another stylist, Voodoo Republic. I think when it comes to this thing, you have to find the people on the back end. When you work with a stylist, there's no way you wouldn't get to link with the artiste. That's where strategy comes in. When you meet one person, it leads you to another person, and it goes on.

Oxlade & Rexxie wearing Zangar on ‘Frenemies’ video

Damdam: But how did you juggle this with school, especially as an engineering student.

Biobaku Eniola: I think the only mistake is not giving up before it is too late. It wasn't easy, to be honest. When you think of your parents, especially your mum, you just tell yourself, omo, I gast finish this p.

Eniola and his mum

Let's just say my mum kept me going when it came to my academics. 'cause left to me…(intense laughter)

Damdam: (chuckles) I understand. I remember seeing a video of you with Poco Lee and Timini Egbuson. How did that happen?

Biobaku Eniola: it was still normal bombing. But I won't lie. I was really shy and nervous back then. So I didn't do a lot of talking or making friends with them. But now, I'm ready to meet them all over again.

Damdam: How do you handle creative blocks or periods of low inspiration?

Biobaku Eniola: Do nothing.

Damdam: Do nothing keh?

Biobaku Eniola: Yes, do nothing. The thing is, there's always something to do. If there's a creative block, you do another thing. And if I feel like I'm stuck trying to create something, I just stop. I've always been a fan of effortlessness.

My favourite quote is, “If it didn't dey, it didn't dey.”

The only thing I have close to creative blocks is trying to perfect something, and I can't find more ways to do it.

Damdam: What's your take on spirituality and religion?

Biobaku Eniola: Before, I wasn't really into religion and spirituality. But then, I realized that I was doing everything except praying. So I started getting close to God. I'm more of a personal relationship than religion per se.

Damdam: Let's talk about something different. Are you in love?

Biobaku Eniola: Haha! I'm in love with myself. Self-love wan kill me. The thing is, the person you want also has someone else. And I don't like sharing. But to be honest, I just don't want any kind of person around me. And most people around me now…

Damdam: But do you believe in love at first sight? Some people don't. They believe it's infatuation or lust.

Biobaku Eniola: Well, it can be. But I don't believe people fall in love, but people grow in love.

Damdam: So far, are you happy?

Biobaku Eniola: Personally, I'm happy. But when it comes to things I need to do, where I ought to be, omo, depression go whine you but you no go panic.

But personally, I'm happy. I wake up every day, and I have my purpose in existence.

Damdam: What's one of your biggest dreams?

Biobaku Eniola: I have plenty of dreams! Number 1: even though it doesn't sound like a dream. You know Mr. Eazi's birthday? July 19th, and mine is July 20th. I want us to celebrate it together.

But I think, getting to the finish line and spend time with my family. I mean, achieve all my goals, get rich and then spend the remaining time with my family.

Damdam: You always rep this movement called Revò. What does Revò mean?

Credit:@revoisnow

Biobaku Eniola: What Revò means is Revolution. Revo; Movement of the people, by the people, for the people and with the people. Just a community of people doing things together and pushing their P with the little they have.

Damdam: If you could title this chapter of your life right now, what would it be?

Biobaku Eniola: This chapter is called "Life Goes On." Because at the end of the day, I've realized that life goes on. No matter what happens.

Damdam: If you give a short message to a creative out there, what would it be?

Biobaku Eniola: Let me give three pieces of advice. 1. WALK YOUR OWN PATH. 2. Give up before it's too late. 3. Just keep moving.

Follow the Biobaku Eniola on socials as he walks his own path: @Kofithecreator_rv, @Lordrazak.mp4, @zangar_ng