John Chukwu (JC) is regarded as one of the founding fathers of stand-up or modern-day comedy in Nigeria but chances are if you weren’t born before or around the 80s, you would not have heard of him. He was Ali Baba’s contemporary.
The Greeks and Romans confined their use of the word “comedy” to descriptions of stage-plays with happy endings. In the Middle Ages, the term expanded to include narrative poems with happy endings. As time progressed, the word came more and more to be associated with any sort of performance intended to cause laughter.During the Middle Ages, the term “comedy” became synonymous with satire, and later with humour in general.
Though the history of stand-up comedy in some form can be traced as far back as the 1800s, stand-up, as it is known today, did not really make any meaningful impact until the 1970s. Patrick Bromley states that in the United States of America, for instance, the 1970s marked the birth of modern stand-up comedy, as it witnessed the appearance of a new generation of comedians and the rise of comedy clubs. According to him, unlike the traditional setup/punch-line joke tellers, the new stand-up acts were faster and looser, mixing the confessional with the socio-political, a comedy art form that was reborn. The new crop of comedians, like George Carlin and Richard Pryor, became not just stars, but icons. Also, comedians like Robert Klein and Jerry Seinfeld ushered in a new style of “observational” comedy – material that sprang from everyday life, accessible to wide audiences that identified with the comics as being just like themselves.
In Nigeria, comedians have existed from time immemorial in the form of village spokesmen, especially at ceremonial occasions. These comedians were so recognized that they were paid to perform at events.
By the 1950s, the first generation of vocational humour performers were already visible in Nigeria. Names that would come to be associated with this generation included Moses Olaiya [Baba Sala], Usman Baba Pategi [Samanja], James Iroha[Gringory], Chika Okpala [Zebrudaya], Sunday Omobolanle [PapiLuwe/Aluwe], Afolabi Afolayan [Jagua], Kayode Olaiya [Aderupoko], TajudeenGbadamosi [Jacob], and Papa Lolo [Ayo Ogunshina]. There is reason to believe that these individuals had an impressive following up until 1990, theatre performances (both stationary and travelling) constituting launching-pads for the emergence of their comic artistry.
The business of comedy began in the 70s with the popular Mazi Mperempe programme on Radio Nigeria and the old Anambra State Television, Enugu. But it was Alleluia Atunyota Akporobomeriere, alias, Ali Baba who made it a career. He had his first show in 1988 at the then Bendel University Ekpoma. Ali Baba dared the odds of negative public perceptions to have a breakthrough in comedy.
Today, it is generally agreed that it is Ali Baba that gave comedy the reputation it has in Nigeria. However, due credit needs to be given to Opa Williams, for creating the pedestal for the rise and development of modern stand-up comedy. After an experience at the Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos around 1994/95, Opa (as he is popularly called), created Nite of a thousand laughs, a dedicated live event strictly involving only stand-up performances of comedians.
He organised the maiden edition in 1995, at the University of Lagos. The event was a success, artistically, but a failure, in terms of financial returns. Despite encountering colossal loss that year, he hung on to the promise of the event, returning in 1996 with some partners. It was yet another huge loss and his partners, understandably, developed cold feet. But Opa was not daunted despite the brick walls he faced in getting sponsors. In his book Opa Williams: Father of Modern Comedy, Zik Zulu Okafor recounts one of such encounters: “He had gone to an electronic company to seek sponsorship. The Indian man asked, “You want people to pay to come and laugh? Laugh is free my friend. Ok, come back in five years if you are serious,” he said, practically making a mockery of the idea. Ten years later, this same Indian would see him and say, “My friend, you are a great man. You are a man of great vision.” Although his company does not sponsor events, he gave Opa a N200,000 cheque and five television sets”
Okafor posits that “Night of a Thousand Laughs” has endured because before it, comedians were mere jesters and clowns, used at intervals of events and paid inadequately. Nigerians now pay yearly pilgrimage to “Nite of a Thousand Laughs.” In other words, Opa Williams made comedy a veritable business venture; he made Nigerians realise they have to pay to laugh. He created the comedy industry and set up the factory to feed the people. Although Opa started with the likes of late Mohammed Danjuma, Okey Bakassi, Sam Loco Efe, Boma Erokosima, Late Sammy Needle, Late Junior and Pretty, his factory has since produced many more comedians, a great number of them entertaining millions around the globe. Some within the younger generation, like Francis Duru, Yibo Koko, Ayodeji Makun, aka AY, Julius Agwu, Basketmouth, I Go Dye, Bovi, I Go Save, Gandoki, MC Abbey, Gordons, Michael Ogbolosingha, Klint de Drunk, Teju Baby Face, Maleke, Holly Mallam, Elenu, MC Shakara, Onyebuchi Ojieh (Buchi), Emeka Smith, Princess, and Lepacious Bose, among others.
In more recent times, just like Opa Williams in the 90s, IK Osakioduwa is starting a comedy club of sorts named Comedy Nites. Not a comedian himself, IK is bringing fresh acts like Senator, Koloman, Larry J, Efe the Warri boy, Dee-One, Josh 2 Funny, Ovy Godwin, Ukodo, Daniel Egwede, KojaKaze, MIC, PHAGE, Damola, Laff Doctor, Whalemouth, Parkhage, Short Family, Ebube, Uwa, Mr. Paul and MCLively. He has already secured a spot on DStv.
Comedy Nites is the presenter’s second attempt at TV shows. His first production ‘Highlites with IK’ enjoyed three years on air before the DStv channel paused it. For his latest effort, however, IK is still tilting towards a late-night show format only that in this case, it is strictly comedy.
Currently, Instagram is regarded as the quickest channel for comedians to gain exposure. The ease, access to celebrities and the sheer number of users of the platform mean that all it takes it the right person to see a comedy skit and the comedian is launched into social media stardom. Some examples of such comedians are Maraji, Emmanuella, Crazeclown, Wofai, McLively, Josh2Funny etc.
On the other hand, DStv provides a larger and more structured audience. By being on DStv, these new acts shed their Instagram comedian image and become full-fledged comedians. It’s an opportunity for these comedians to reach about 1.5 million Nigerian homes giving them exposure beyond the virtual world and could lead to them becoming household names. Another reason why being on a platform like DStv matters is that seeing upcoming acts on stage gives younger comedians something to aspire to and will, in turn, develop the industry.
Indeed, the stand-up comedy genre in Nigeria has transformed from nothing to something, and unlike the theatre, it promises to maintain that status for a long while; all credit to those who dared to dream.
Mayowa Owojaiye
Owojaiye is a Communications Specialist and lives in Lagos Nigeria
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