Some of the untalented stand-up comedians that venture into
comedy still try due to the fact that they believe comedy is now lucrative,
they tap into it then fall out of it because they fail. Even those with high
educational qualification dump their certificate base on the fact stand-up
comedy is now a legit way of making cool millions and at the same time having
fun. While some seem not to be too gifted with the unique act of satire or
making an expectant crowd happy and satisfied with humorous jokes, others on
the other hand are born with this gift and find it very easy to make any crowd
laugh with the slightest attempt given to them.
Lots of comedians now charge their fans heavily to watch and
listen to them perform. For instance A.Y LIVE: Happiness Edition on 20th of
April, 2014, the tickets were on sale for N6000 (Regular), N25000 (VIP), N500,
000/1000000(Table for 10). That is how lucrative stand-up comedy has come to be
in recent times, and believe me when I say that the crowed recorded at such
events are always overwhelming notwithstanding the price of the tickets as
Nigerians, Caucasians and our brothers in the diaspora never miss the
opportunity of hanging out with their loved ones and have a good time over a
round of hilarious jokes and theatrical satire acts performed by this stand-up
comedians.
Before the present financial and social boom of stand-up
comedy in the entertainment industry, classic Nigerian drama comedy series,
such as Baba Sala, masquerade, the popular Mazi Mperempe programme on Radio
Nigeria and old Anambra State Television, Enugu, in the good old 70s, 80s and
early 90s were the only source of contemporary stand-up comedy, if recalled a
30 minutes programme on Radio Nigeria in Pidgin English which featured Mazi
Mperempe dashing out numerous rib cracking
jokes , always starting with his popular slogan “Oluo n’onume...... onye
agbana oso...!” meaning “the time for action has arrived..... Nobody should run
away...!”
Stand-up comedy was left
unexploited till a certain revolutionist
in the mould of Alleuia Atunyota Akporobomeriere, alias Ali Baba came into the
picture.
Ali Baba: He is a 1990 graduate of Religious/Philosophy
Studies from then Bendel State University now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
came to the scene. After acquiring a degree from the then Bendel State
University, Ekpoma in 1990, he relocated to Lagos having discovered his comic
talent and humorous side in his 3rd Year in University. He had planned to
return to Ekpoma to read Law but that was not to be, since he discovered he
could make more money from making people laugh than defending them. He had
little experience having performed in his first show in 1988, at the pavilion
of the then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, Ali Baba knew exactly how to go
about it, by 1998, Ali registered a
company, Ali Baba Hiccupurathird. That year he erected three bill boards at
strategic locations in Lagos: Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria island; Marina;
and Osborn road, Ikoyi, paying as much as N140 000 for each billboard per year.
The billboard carried a simple but heartfelt message “Ali Baba- Being funny is
Serious Business” and that signalled the revolution of stand-up comedy business
wise.
Ali Baba had featured on Friday Night Live, popular Charly
Boy Show and Night Train with Bisi Olatilo on the Network services of the
Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) had made him a popular figure with viewers,
Guinness decided to take him along on a nationwide tour for the lunch of Satzenbrau
beer in Nigeria. His contract with Guinness paid him 1.5million, his first
millions gotten from stand-up comedy at that time. In one of his interviews, he
recalled that “the appreciation level of stand up comedy then was very low
because a comedian was always the last on the list of events and the first to
go if the event planner decides to cut cost”.
Today it is an undisputed fact that Ali Baba gave stand-up comedy the
face it is putting on today and has remained a dominant force in the industry maintaining
his status as the “King of stand up comedy” being the first comedian to be paid
well in the country, driving a heavy monster truck, with personalised plates,
“Ali Baba 1” and a Dodge Ram, registered as “Ali Baba 2” amongst others.
However, evolution of stand-up comedy to a lucrative
business in Nigeria would not be well expatiated without given credit to Opa
Williams, for the development of modern stand-up comedy. Opa Williams a native
of Aradehe in Isoko North Local Govt of Delter State, had produced movies like
Tears for love, Onome, Sergeant Okoro and Mama btw 1993 and 1998. He
conceptualised “Night of a Thousand Laughs” a public event first held on
Sunday, 1st October, 1995, at the University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos. The event
was a success theatrically but a massive failure in terms of financial returns,
still that did not stop him and he came back with a follow up in 1996 this time
with some partners and still encountered some financial recession but he
persisted and after much perseverance and repackaging with new sponsors, Opa
Williams made Nigerian realise that they had to pay to laugh, he made comedians
realise that they can wear designers suits to perform as professionals and he
taught comedians that stand-up comedy can be held in high profile venues with
high profile personalities attracted to the event with high fees.
In other words Opa Williams gave comedy the “cooperate and
serious” face it is wearing today. He pioneered comedy in to a business venture
creating a vibrant comedy industry setting up a “laugh clinic” for the
depressed, seeking to laugh or couples, family and individuals seeking to laugh
as a form of entertainment or amusement. “Night of a Thousand Laugh” as we know
today created the platform for many of old stand-up comedians such as Late Sam
Loko Efe, Okey Bakassi, Late Mohammed Danjuma, late Sammy Needle and Late
Junior to showcase their talent, we can’t help but notice that most of our new
generation comedians such as klint d Drunk, Emeka Smith, Buchi, lepacious Bose, Basket Mouth, Julius Agwu, I go Die, I Go
Save, Holly Mallam, Elenu, Princess, Gandoki, Gordons, Mc Shakara and Ayodeji
Makun aka A.Y amongst others were also given a chance to showcase their talent
at one stage of their early career thus creating a sort of academy for fresh,
raw, and natural talents that have grown to be a global phenomenon in the
global stand-up comedy industry.
Julius Agwu: He can be referred as one of the most
successful entertainers in Nigeria today. His talent has afforded him with the
opportunity to stand before the kings and princes of this world. His success
story chronicles the rise of a child born without a spoon let alone a silver or
golden spoon! He hails from Choba in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of
Rivers State. Julius attended Elementary
State School in Choba and later went on to UPE also at Choba, while he had his
secondary school education at Government Secondary School in Borokini,
Port-Harcourt. However, he acquired his ‘O’ Levels at Akpor Grammar School in
Ozoba where his social prowess was brought to the fore as a social prefect and
President of the Dramatic, Debating and Cultural Society. Julius who passed in
flying colours, later gained admission into The University of Port-Harcourt to
study Theater Arts at the Diploma level with specialization in acting. He then
followed suit with a degree programme (BA) in Theatre Arts still at the
University of Port-Harcourt. Julius was adjudged the best student in the
graduating class of the year in 1997.
His combined success in the movie industry, music and comedy
in Nigeria is unrivaled by any other artiste till date. He founded a genre of
music in Nigeria known as musicomedy being the first comedian to release a
comedy album in the country and this earned him different awards and
nominations. Having conquered the home terrain, Julius D’ Genius Agwu has also
taken stand up comedy shows to different parts of the world like Atlanta,
Maryland, London, among others. Foremost amongsthis annual comedy shows are;
Crack Ya Ribs and Laff for Christ Sake. Considering that he hasn’t reached the
peak of his career, Julius is working on various projects for the very near
future including a television show.
Bright Okpocha: Popularly known as Basketmouth is rated to
be the second richest comedian in the country today after Alibaba. This
assertion may likely be borne out of his numerous national and international
endorsement deals which include Globacom and Virgin Atlantic. Some even ranked
him as Nigeria’s biggest comedy brand as he has been breaking into
international mainstream comedy shows, earning thousands of dollars. For
instance, he has been voted second Best Comedian in Africa by MNET’s Studio 53
Extra. He has recently performed series of comedy shows in major cities in the
United States of America, London, South Africa.
Earlier, in 1988, he was to be paid N10,000 to perform at a send forth
event until Tony Tetuila put in a word for him and his fee was raised to
N30,000. All that as it is often said are history as the Abia State born
multimillionaire comedian rakes over N80 million from his ‘African Kings of
Comedy’, ‘Lord of the Ribs’ and ‘Basket mouth Uncensored’ shows. Not to forget
other millions staking in fro endorsements with Glo, Kia, Dana Air Amongst
others.
Ayo Richard Makun: He is also known as AY is another
successful show host who is skilled in his art. The Delta State born stand-up
comedian had been into showbiz for several years before he met with his mentor,
Ali Baba in 2005. The Theatre Arts graduate of the Delta State University
gained fame through impersonating Rev. Chris Okotie of Household of God Church,
Lagos, in his hilarious jokes and by 2006, AY was named the Best Up-Coming
Comedian in Nigeria. For instance in 2007, the second edition of A.Y Live
“Lagos Invasion” had to be staged on two different days as it attracted a
recvord crowd. Lagos audience were held spell bound by the number of turn up he
had for that event and two years later, Abuja experienced a replica of the
scenario in Lagos when he held A.Y Live; “Abuja Invasion” He drives a luxury
Range Rover Sport, worth N18 million, has fleets of cars to his name and Like
his mentor, Ali Baba, AY has huge investments in real estate, event management,
Fashion outlets, and hospitality.
The multiple award-winning stand-up comedians in
collaboration with Sun International, operators of the Federal Palace Hotel and
Casino teamed up to put up the AY Comedy Club dubbed as, The AY’s Open Mic
Comedy Club. The show is a monthly comedy and variety show that entertains a
distinct audience of high class. Also, through his monthly AY’s Open Mic
Challenge that holds every third Sunday at The National Theatre, Lagos. AY can be regarded as the ‘father’ of many
up-coming and established acts. The show has discovered the likes of Seyi Law,
Elenu, Emeka Smith, MC Shakara and a host of others.
I Go Die: Francis Agoda is also a force to be reckoned with
in the industry as events and record shows that stand-up comedy is sure a
lucrative business. When Comedian I go Die first came into the comedy scene,
his long neck and hungry look made people laugh at him whilst he told his
jokes. In fact, he looked like a joker trying to earn a living and was
nicknamed ‘tolotolo’neck. Today, the joke is on those who laughed at him because
he is rolling in big bucks. Few years ago, he splashed a whooping N21 million
on two luxury automobiles to add to his posh wonders-on- wheels. He was on a
two months Europe tour few years ago, performing in France, Holland, Germany,
Spain and Belgium. The Delta State-born humour merchant acquired N14 million
worth White-Diamond Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2012 Model (Platinum Edition) and
a reported N7 million worth Range Rover Evogue. Sources close to the comedian
said, he owns real estate investments, including a property in Delta and Lagos.
He acquired a N30 million white and ash with red interior Rolls Royce Phantom.
Aside from this, I Go Die has investments totalling into
millions of naira, something he never dreamed of as a child who grew up lacking
the basic things in life. The rib-cracker who has been enjoying the best of
time with his comedy in and out of the country, no doubt, is one of the best
acts in the industry.
It is no longer news that stand-up comedy once regarded as
waste of time normally associated with unserious and illiterate people is now a
big business transforming its
practitioners into hard currency millionaires with sold outs events, shows and
endorsement deals raking in from every corner.
LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
No comments:
Post a Comment