ALLI BABA KING OF NIGERIA COMEDIAN
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Times were when nobody could hold up his head and claim to be a comedian in Nigeria. Those who did anything close, preferred to be known as Masters-of-Ceremony (MC). This was because it was more prestigious to go by the appellation of an MC than to be associated with a bunch of people who were described with some of the worst epithets, like âloafersâ, âpeople with no future ambitionâ, jokersâ and the like.
Incidentally, these people were not devoted to comedy; they breezed in and out of it.
What is known as the Nigerian comedy industry today, probably took roots a little over 10 years ago. There are two landmarks that signpost the current age of prosperity for Nigerian comedians. Number One: Opa Williams gave the teeming number of Nigerian comedians and the public something to look forward to with the entrenchment of a session of frolicking called âA Night of a Thousand Laughsâ. Strategically positioned to hold on Nigeriaâs anniversary every October 1.
The programme has since taken a life of its own, churning out an increasing number of deliverables like Cds, T-Shirts amisdt other souvenirs.
Number Two: The industry witnessed the arrival of Atunnyota Alleluya Akpobome, better known as, Ali Baba. Really tongue twisting you might say, little wonder he opted for a short cut name Ali Baba
Everyone in the industry agrees that it was Akpobome who gave comedy the beautiful face it wears today in Nigeria. Undoubtedly, he became the first comedian to be well paid in Nigeria. He hit the scene with a bang in 1993 and has never looked back since. From the beginning, Akpobome set out to play in the big league. It was a deliberate choice that he made and took all of five years to nuture, packaging himself to perform for those who appreciate his art.
In 1998, Ali registered his company, âAli Baba Hiccupurathirdâ. You think the name of his enterprise is funny, but he meant business. That was the year he erected three billboards in strategic locations in Lagos: Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Osborne Road, Ikoyi and the Marina. He paid N150,000 for each billboard per year for two years. It was like a thunder bolt that hit the landscape when organisers of events found it hard to pay comedians amounts ranging between N10,000 and N20,000. The billboard carried a simple message âAli Baba-Being Funny is Serious Businessâ.
#Today, the 1990 graduate of Religious Studies/Philosophy, Bendel State University, Ekpoma has established a reputation that is hard to beat. You can see him driving around town in a Monster Truck with a personalized plate number âAli Baba 1â. The other car, which he explains were acquired as showbiz apparatus, is a Dodge Ram registered as âAli Baba 2â.
He also rides a Lexus, an E-Class, a LR3 and a Landcruiser. He must really be a lover of cars if you ask me.
No doubt comedy is serious business. Or what else can one ask for?
So whatever you know how to do, do it well, even if it is as plain as making people laugh.
Goodlife
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