Comedian Folagade Banks, aka Mama Deola, sparks debate online after speaking at Sister Circle women’s empowerment event

Nigerian comedian and content creator Folagade Banks, popularly known as “Mama Deola,” has sparked widespread debate after attending a women-focused conference in Lagos.

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Banks appeared as a panelist at Sister Circle, an event dedicated to women’s empowerment and organised by veteran dancer Kaffy.

A video from the conference went viral, showing Mama Deola delivering a speech from the character’s perspective.

He highlighted how his content explores mothers’ emotional struggles and societal pressures, aiming to foster empathy for women’s experiences.

The clip has generated mixed reactions on social media. Some users questioned whether a man, even in a cross-dressing persona, should speak on women’s issues.

Others defended the comedian, noting that his content celebrates mothers and resonates with female audiences.

One Twitter user, @cheche_nw, argued, “Mama Deola is a fictional character created by a man and has no right to have a seat at that table talking about mothers.” Another, @Ayoappeal, countered, “His biggest supporters are women, and his content seems to be working, so why not?”

At the time of reporting, neither Banks nor event organiser Kaffy has publicly commented on the controversy.

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The discussion raises broader questions about representation, performance, and who can occupy spaces designed to centre women’s lived experiences.