Meet Dahmola, Toke Makinwa’s stylist on BBNaija S9: The Buzz

Dahmola has become one of the most sought-after stylists, known for his impeccable style and long-standing partnership with Toke Makinwa, host of BBNaija S9: The Buzz on Showmax. 

With experience in costume design and personal styling, his journey is inspiring. From starting as a fashion intern to styling top celebrities like Simi, Sharon Ooja and South Africa’s Bonang Matheba, Damola has become a key figure in shaping today’s celebrity fashion. 

In a chat with Tiarhan Oghenejode, he talks about his career journey, mentorship under Bolaji Animashaun, and his role as the go-to stylist for celebrities. 

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity

Can you tell us about your journey into the fashion industry? What inspired you to become a stylist?

My journey started in 2012 as a fashion intern for Arise Fashion Week, where I met my mentor, Bolaji Animashaun. I started as more of a costume designer, working on TV and film sets like Skinny Girl in Transit and Flawsome. That’s how I met most of my celebrity clients, including Sharon Ooja.

Fashion was always my passion, but I didn’t know where to begin. While in school, I stumbled on a call for Arise Fashion Week. I failed my first interview with Bolaji Animashaun, but my determination led me to work with another stylist, Veronica Odeka. Bolaji saw me again, and the rest is history.

I worked with Bolaji for years on projects like Maltina Dancehall and MTV Shuga. After the lockdown, I shifted focus to personal styling, starting with Sharon Ooja, who became my first big client. Through her, I met Bisola Aiyeola and eventually Toke Makinwa. Sharon’s recommendation opened doors, and that’s how my career in personal styling took off. Sharon is my forever queen!

How did you land the opportunity to style Toke Makinwa?

It all started during the Covid lockdown. I had reached out to Sharon Ooja, whom I worked with on Skinny Girl in Transit. I asked if I could be her stylist, and she was all for it. Sharon became my first big client, and through her, I connected with others, including Toke Makinwa.

At the time, TM, as I like to call her, was already working with another stylist and didn’t know who I was – I only had about 2 000 followers then. We all worked together on Glamour Girls at the time and when Toke needed a stylist, Sharon recommended me. She was initially unsure, asking, “Who is this guy?”. But one thing led to another and Toke took a chance on me based on that recommendation, and from there, we’ve built an amazing working relationship.

Styling Toke has been a pivotal moment in my career. She allowed me to prove myself, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

What was your first look with Toke Makinwa?

Toke is definitely one of my top clients. I’ll never forget our first look—a powder blue body mesh dress for a campaign shoot. We recently did a shoot for her upcoming birthday in November, and it’s my favourite look with her so far – Toke 2.0, a side of her no one has seen before. She’s the ultimate fashion girl, always serving looks.

How does styling a celebrity like Toke Makinwa for a TV show like BBNaija: The Buzz differ from styling for other events like red carpets or magazine covers? What’s your ideal Toke Makinwa brief?

When styling Toke for BBNaija: The Buzz, my goal is to surprise her with every episode. She owns a lot of shoes and outfits, so I always want to create fresh, unexpected looks. Sometimes, I’ll bring out items she hasn’t worn in years and incorporate them into her style. This show gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase her wardrobe in a fun way.

The key is keeping it fresh and young. I think that’s how I approach styling her overall. Whether for TV or other events, my aim is to create trendy looks that are ahead of the curve. A lot of styles I’ve designed for her become trends afterward, but the real ones know where they saw it first.

How do you balance your client’s personal style with your own creative vision when designing or styling for them?

The key to my work is trust. My clients trust me, and I always make sure I respect each of their unique styles. With Toke Makinwa, for instance, our collaboration is about taking her personal style and elevating it, making it fresher and more in tune with today’s fashion.

Each client has a distinct style – Toke’s vibe is very different from Sharon’s, and Bonang’s is different from both of them. Even though Toke’s style doesn’t overlap with theirs, I ensure it remains true to who she is. My goal is not to change her style, but to take it a notch higher, adding modern, bold touches while still respecting her identity.

Toke is in an industry where Gen Z is making waves, but she’s still very much a young, vibrant woman. So, I incorporate that balance – mature yet playful – showing she can stand out in any crowd, whether she wants to go left or right. It’s about staying true to her, while keeping her style fresh and exciting.

You’ve styled a lot of celebrities, even in South Africa. What are some of your top highlights in personal styling and costume design?

Starting with costume design, one of my top highlights is MTV Shuga Season 2 with Tiwa Savage. It was my first major project, and people still talk about it today. Then, there’s Skinny Girl in Transit. I joined in Season 4, and the show’s fashion really took off. Each season, the looks evolved, and fans were always asking, “What’s Shalewa wearing?”. Another big project was Ayinla, my first epic film, where I worked closely with Ade Bakare. The freedom I had to create looks made it a special experience.

For personal styling, Sharon Ooja’s wedding is a standout. We didn’t expect to break the internet, but that metallic ghillie look took everyone by surprise. Another highlight was styling Bonang Matheba for Miss South Africa this year and Taymesan at the 2023 AMVCAs, where he wore a bold corset and crop jacket. I also styled nine clients for that event, including Sharon, Bisola, Beauty Tukura, and Taymesan, with Beauty winning Best Dressed. It was stressful but reaffirmed my confidence in what I do.

What advice would you give to young stylists looking to break into the Nigerian fashion scene?

My main advice is to do it for the right reasons. Don’t become a stylist because you want to be close to celebrities or because you think it’s just about dressing well. Styling is hard work – it involves long nights and a lot of brainpower. It’s more than just putting beautiful clothes on people. You need to know the right clothes for the right clients and events, and that requires research and thought.

It’s an intentional, curated process. So, take your time to learn and don’t rush to put “Styled by me” on everything. The benefit of working under someone you admire is that you gain knowledge, contacts, and visibility. 

Good work brings more work, so you can’t rest on one achievement. It’s always about what’s next. I feel like the younger generation do not want to put in the effort sometimes. Back in the day, fashion was exciting – we were just happy to be in the room. Now, you might have assistants more focused on their acrylic nails than holding a dress properly, and you have to wonder, “Are you okay?”.

So, stay focused, work hard, and do it for the love of the craft, not for the glamour.

All episodes of The Buzz are available to binge-watch on Showmax.