Witty and versatile, sharp-eyed and relatable, bold yet humble — these are the qualities that define Maryam Apaokagi-Greene, better known to millions as Taaooma. With nothing more than a phone camera and her remarkable ability to slip into multiple roles at once, she has turned everyday Nigerian family life into timeless comedy. From the stern “African mother” with her quick slaps to the confused child caught in her web of discipline, Taaooma has risen beyond being a mere entertainer; she has become a cultural storyteller, reflecting the truths of home with humor that resonates across generations.
Born on 28 February 1999 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Taaooma grew up as the last of five children. Her childhood was split between Nigeria and Namibia, exposing her to different cultures and sharpening her worldview. She attended Dolastar Primary School in Ilorin before moving to Namibia, where she schooled at Amazing Kids Private School & Academy and Concordia College, Windhoek. Returning to Nigeria, she earned a degree in Tourism and Travel Services Management at Kwara State University, balancing her studies with a budding passion for creativity.
Her journey into comedy began in 2015 when she learned video editing from her partner, filmmaker Abdulaziz Oladimeji, popularly known as Abula. What started as playful skits soon exploded into a viral sensation. By 2019, her “When Your Mum Drives You to School” video had gone mainstream, cementing her brand as the face of relatable African family comedy. Taaooma’s genius lies not in outlandish scripts but in her ability to magnify everyday realities—discipline, misunderstandings, and the warmth of home—into stories everyone sees themselves in.
Over the years, she has evolved into more than a skit maker. Taaooma is the founder of Chop Tao, a thriving small-chops business; co-owner of The Greenade Company, a video production outfit; and a sought-after brand influencer. She completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in 2020, proving that even as fame grew, she remained grounded in the structures of Nigerian society.
In 2020, Taaooma and Abula got engaged in Namibia and later tied the knot in January 2021. Their union brought together two creative forces, and in late 2024, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Amani Korede Makeda Greene. Despite her fame, Taaooma continues to share her life with grace and privacy, balancing family with career in a way that inspires many young women.
What makes Taaooma truly exceptional is her ability to transform comedy into commentary. Beneath the laughter, her skits capture the struggles, values, and contradictions of Nigerian life—discipline in the home, generational clashes, and the humor tucked into hardship. She does not simply entertain; she reflects a society back to itself with warmth and honesty.
Indeed, young and fearless, truly gifted and visionary, Taaooma is more than an online comedian; she is a cultural phenomenon. In her twenties, she has proven that digital storytelling can be powerful, profitable, and deeply personal. Her story is one of courage, creativity, and vision—reminding a generation that greatness is not always born in stadiums or parliaments, but sometimes in living rooms, behind phone cameras, and in the shared laughter of millions.
