Available history shows that contemporary Nigerian humour industry began with comperes like Mohammed Danjuma of blessed memory, Alarm Blow, Ibokoko, Agoma, Basorge and of course Ali Baba who saw the big picture of limitless opportunities in cracking jokes (known today as stand-up comedy) and embraced it at the time when other comperes thought it was scornful to be addressed as a stand-up comedian.
In this article, Odu Black takes a look at the second generation of humour merchants who did not only feed on the dream of Mr. Alleluya Atunyota Akporobomeriere aka Ali Baba for comedy, but have explored more avenues (like production of comedy shows on TV, radio and film) in the business of laughter to add Alleluya to the testimony of all those who practice comedy today without fear of being belittled.
1. BRIGHT OKPOCHA –BASKET MOUTH
Perhaps Bright Okpocha a.k.a Basket Mouth is the biggest grass to grace story in the history of Nigerian comedy. He began his career in showbiz as a rapper but a poor stage performance ended his journey to the studio and in a bid to reply fans who hurled abusive words at him, Basket Mouth found his funny bone that will define his future.
From being underpaid or not being paid at all, Okpocha kept faith with his newfound career until he found his way to what was the biggest comedy show in Nigeria-Night of a Thousand Laughs produced by Opa Williams.
From being a hit on Night of a thousand Laughs, Basket Mouth soon started producing his own shows like Laff and Jams, Lord of the Ribs and the eventual big one, Basket Mouth Uncensored. The hugely successful show saw Basket Mouth taking his craft out of the shores of Nigeria and putting Nigerian comedy on the world map with his performance on internationally acclaimed Comedy Central being one of his most remarkable.
With his unique style and branding Bright Okpocha is today a blue blood in Nigerian comedy with brands like Globacom and Dana Airline among others gladly associating with the humour merchant.
His huge effort that brought comedians across Africa and America to stage African Kings of Comedy is one effort that will be remembered for a long time.
2. AYO MAKUN –AY
Ayo Makun is often seen as one of the alpha males of the second generation of Nigerian comedians, as he has successfully transformed himself from that aspiring stand-up comedian to a showbiz mogul with investments worth hundreds of millions in film and television production, events and tourism.
At the last check, the University of Benin Theatre Arts graduate commanded a record breaking earning in Nigeria cinema history- a whopping 76 million naira from his comedy movie 30 Days in Atlanta which marked his debut as film maker.
Before his foray into film making, AY had established big comedy brands like AY LIVE, a comedy show that explores stand-up comedy, hilarious drama skits and music to entertain thousands of fans across Nigeria and earning millions of naira in the process. Television has not been left out as the comedian has a very successful sitcom, AY’s Crib on air, while his talent discovery brand Open Mic has seen AY discover and promote upwardly mobile comedians like Seyi Law, Elenu, Emeka Smith, and Akpororo to mention but a few, making him a kingmaker and a cult hero in the business.
Ayo Makun’s hard work has no doubt brought him fame and fortune, and big brands have been happily associating with him and that too has swollen his pocket in no small measure. He has brought pride to the founding fathers of comedy. AY might look as thin as a runway model but by the grace of comedy his wallet is now as fat as an opera singer.
3. HELEN PAUL
Among male and female comedians, Helen Paul is one talent who breezed onto the scene with a style that is unique to her alone. The then University of Lagos undergraduate began her career by mimicking children’s voices, one of her earliest hits was a performance in the introduction of one of Square’s hit song, Story, and soon she was a hit on Radio Continental, where her character and stage name Tatafo were born.
From her radio show, Helen became a star and the toast in every major event especially women’s functions before becoming a co-host on MNET’s TV show Jara, where the founding fathers of Nigerian comedy will surely be proud of her success and antics every week on the show, as they are of all of her exploits in the world of comedy.
4. JULIUS AGWU
Julius Agwu is one comedian who has explored every aspect of comedy. He has contributed in no small measure to taking the comedy business to the heights that it is seen today and stashing up cool cash as his reward.
Today, Julius Agwu is one of the stars of comedy because the Choba born artiste is so many things rolled into one. He is an actor, a musician, a compere and an entrepreneur.
From a humble beginning in Choba, Port-Harcourt where he began his career, Julius began the diversification of comedy in Nigeria when he originated what is known today as musicomedy. In 2000, his first album, Okombo which was inspired by Awilo Logomba and enjoyed nationwide and beyond, received lots of nominations. He went ahead to release another successful album, ‘My Style’ in 2003 and ‘D’ Genius’ in 2010.
Today, the success story of Agwu fondly called D’ Genius has grown astronomically as he handles many A-list events in Nigeria and beyond. Agwu has taken his brand of comedy to different parts of the world like Atlanta, Maryland, London; promoting Nigerian comedy through franchises like Comedy Train, Crack Ya Ribs, and Laff for Christ’s Sake.
A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, Agwu is the MD/CEO of Reellaff Limited, a creative company that has made Agwu worthy of being counted as one the pillars that have built comedy in Nigeria through diversification.
