Popular Hausa content creator A.S Ramalam, popularly known as “Hausa Guy,” has revealed that the nickname was given to him by a white colleague during his time working with a South African company in Lagos.
Ramalam disclosed this while appearing as a guest on S24 Sportlight, where he explained how a simple translation assignment eventually led to the name that became closely associated with his public identity.
According to him, he was working with a South African firm in Lagos when a white colleague needed assistance translating documents and other materials from English into Hausa.
Ramalam said he consistently delivered accurate and well-presented translations, earning the trust and admiration of the colleague.
He explained that whenever a translation task came up, the white man would reportedly say, “Give it to that Hausa Guy,” referring to Ramalam.
The expression gradually became a nickname among his colleagues and eventually stuck with him.
Ramalam said the attention he received from the nickname initially boosted his confidence, particularly among his peers.
His journey into content creation, however, took a different direction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic reached Nigeria, Ramalam returned home and began creating content, initially sharing his work through various groups before eventually taking it to social media platforms.
He developed a distinctive style by combining Hausa and English, which he uses to communicate with a wider audience while maintaining a strong connection with Hausa language and culture.
According to him, the content has continued to gain traction, with his message reaching audiences beyond his immediate community.
Ramalam also used the opportunity to encourage young people across the Arewa region to embrace creativity and explore positive ways of gaining visibility online.
He urged young Northerners to understand that going viral on social media does not require engaging in offensive, reckless or inappropriate behaviour.
He said creators could attract attention and build successful platforms by producing meaningful, entertaining and culturally relevant content.
The content creator’s story highlights how a nickname born from a workplace interaction eventually became an identity that helped shape his journey into digital content creation.
