Suddenly the comedy industry has become huge. Did you see this coming when you started out as a comedian?
Every human being has the ability to dream and as for me, when it happened, it was more than a dream.
Why is that so?
Because I wanted so much to be like Alibaba, and to also be a stand-up comedian. It was a dream and seeing the dream come through. To answer your first question; you can go over board and begin to believe that you have always seen it. As a matter of fact, brag that the talent has been there, but I won’t say that. I can only say that everything that has happened to me as a stand-up comedian is something that has come with grace and favour of God. Seeing myself where I am today always elicits appreciation to God and by extension, to the industry. And for believing in the industry since 2006.
You seem to be different from others as regards your style of comedy. How have you done this?
There is what you call brand identification. When you are trying to go into something, you come out with your style. People will identify, recognise and accept you with your own style. For me, I would say what has given birth to the AY brand is that AY has created his style, AY understands his market and AY is doing his own thing to the level at which it has gained appreciation that has come with the brand today.
What is it about the AY style that has made it different from others?
I honestly can’t tell you what makes my style different from others, but I know that I created the AY brand and I decided to go in line of my own job as a comedian the way I understood it best. On how I understand it best? The truth is that I am not an advocate of dirty jokes. I try as much as possible to avoid any form of dirty jokes. There is no hidden fact that every dirty joke is funny, no matter how you put it. But I try to take myself away from it. For me, that is a form of branding. I am very conscious of every joke I do, as well as identify this brand as a clean brand; as a brand that cuts across ages and creed. That is a definition of my own comedy. I have built my brand to the point that you can pick something out of it. It is me doing my thing and people accepting it that way and that defines the AY brand.
When did you make up your mind that you wanted to be a comedian?
Sometime in 2005. Then I was the Personal Assistant to the king of comedy, Alibaba.
How was it working with him?
Working with him gave me a sudden recognition of the fact that I graduated as a Theatre Arts student from the Delta State University, Abraka. What we do in Theatre Arts is make believe; create a larger than life attitude. So, it was a plus working with somebody who is in the make-believe business. I saw myself as someone that could put something on the paper and call it a script and stand as an actor who could grab a microphone and get on stage to interprete that which I had put down. This made me walk up to my boss one day that I wanted to be part of this industry.
What was his reaction?
As a matter of fact, he encouraged me and even gave me a platform by allowing me to open shows for him. By doing this, people started to accept me and not quite long, I started comedy professionally.
You were his PA, did you see opening shows for him as a special avenue for you to break into the industry?
The truth is that when you serve with any master, you learn a lot from such master and when you create your own style, it is very possible that there are some other unique things you gain as a result of your master’s additional inspiration. I give credit to God for using him to create that opening for me. As a matter of fact, a good percentage of what I do can be traced to Alibaba. Back then when I started, people would see me and say they have seen Alibaba in this guy because of the style, carriage, level of education and knowledge that they acquired from my materials. When you graduate from the Alibaba school of comedy, you are given the liberty to explore the outside world and create some other things that will redefine or further define your brand.
Some 15 years ago, comedy was not much a leisure avenue for Nigerians. Why do you think Nigerians have now accepted, and pay a lot of money to watch comedy shows?
There were quite a lot of people in the business even before we came on board. That is why you see everybody, even till date, giving kudos to Alibaba, because he reshaped comedy in Nigeria. He took it upon himself to repackage the industry and made comedy a serious business. Today, every professional comedian has his package and the truth is that a lot of people have come to understand that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. There are lots of events that are usually very dry without a stand-up comedian. There are some, for some reasons, who just want to give that job to an English-speaking staff in a company, but at the end of the day, after doing their review, they see how dry the event has been and eventually see why they need to call on a stand-up comedian. Right now, it is a big business and a lot of people, as soon as they go into planning their events, incorporate comedians into it. That puts food on the table of comedians who are doing good at what they do.
You have been talking about Alibaba and other comedians, but when he was there, it was like he was the only one, so he had the opportunities. Then you guys came on board. The opportunities were also there because you were not that many. Do you think the opportunities are still there for up-and-coming comedians to have their way now that there are more seeking that big break?
Of course what makes an industry to be known as industry is the inflow of talents that come in. The opportunities are always there for anyone who wants to excel in this profession. I always tell people that the sky is wide enough for everyone to fly without infringement. It is for people to up their games and know how to get it right because once you are in demand, it means that you are getting something about comedy right. As a matter of fact, the opportunities are as clear that if you use Lagos as an example, on a good Saturday you could have up to 200 weddings in Lagos alone. In fact, the truth is that the comedians we even have now are not enough to cover all the venues at ones. Alibaba is running a marriage, Basketmouth is running a corporate show and a few other comedians are also anchoring as well. You need to create that opportunity for others to come in so that it can go round so that it will only be a matter of choice on who you want to make your master of ceremony.
Is it true that you are from Ondo State?
Yes. I am from Ifon in Ose local government area of Ondo State.
You don’t look it. Also, you don’t have the accent
Yes. Maybe because I was born, and grew up in Delta State. I am more accepted as a Deltan because throughout my growing up, even to my university days, the state government was paying my bursary and when I came up with my show, the state government recognised me as their son who is doing them proud. What Ondo State could not do, Delta State did. They sponsored AY live show. I am proud to be a Deltan. I am like the Obama of Delta State. I can even go there to contest for a political office.
Well, the present Ondo State government has taken steps to focus more on the youth. Moreover, you have anchored one or two shows for the Mimiko-led government. It shows you are also a beneficiary of this administration.
The truth is that I am not among the youth who sit back and wait for what Nigeria, or their state government, can do for them. I am very sure that the state government has already recognised this is one man who strives to succeed by himself with God helping him. If they wish to incorporate me in whatever they are doing, I will appreciate the fact that it is going to come on merit and professionalism. That is one of the main reasons I don’t lobby or run helter-skelter in state houses to get shows. I am pleased with those that recognise me for who I am. I will definitely honour a call from Ondo State. If you said you saw me in one or two events in Ondo State, it wasn’t as a result of the money they offered me. It was more like I had to honour the call of my people for once. As a matter of fact, this job does not limit me to say it has to be your people that I must work for. I am friends with some governors in other states who recognise my talent and incorporate me into their activities in their states either to be part of their planning committees, or to participate as a comedian, which I do always. I am always proud to say I am a Nigerian.
What will you do when Ondo and Delta States call at the same time?
(Laughs…) They must definitely come with a date and that will justify or settle that situation.
What if it’s a call for an appointment, which will you opt for?
I am commissioned to take that decision outside this interview (Laughs….)
From your experience so far, what will be your advice for anyone struggling to make it in the comedy industry?
First, you need to have a talent. But having a talent is barely 30 per cent of what compels you to be a brand. You need to do something unique that is different from what people see regularly; that way you will gain what I call instant recognition and acceptance. Gone are the days we have comedians that don’t do well. For you to remain in the business of comedy now you need to be intact and be learned. It is not a job for dropouts like some people used to be because you are creating something that people can relate with and I don’t think one will last if foolishness or trash is coming out of you. You have to be endowed with the spirit of professionalism which has to do with packaging. It goes beyond being funny. When you’ve got the brand, they don’t need to think twice before they beckon on you for an event because they know what they’re going for. Basically, as an up-and-coming comedian, you need to have all of these, but it is good to create that fundamental approach and be funny, but gradually move to the next level and know the sense of packaging and everything that follows that will definitely make you to become a brand.
Have you ever had it raw with unimpressed fans?
Yes. It was more like being yanked off, not booed. I went to Lagbaja, that was Motherland, sometime when I started in 2006. Then, I had already won an award as the best up-and-coming comedian for the year. Remember I told I started comedy in 2005 and I was bestowed an award in 2006. The introduction by the MC of the occasion at Lagbaja’s event place was so thick and there were lots of screaming. Apparently, they were expecting that recognition to go with a super brand and a beefy fellow. The first thing I heard immediately I stepped on stage was “tani bobo yi”? I didn’t immediately get the message and as a Warri boy, I told them to relax. I hailed them and said ‘how una dey’? Since then, and till now, I have had the phobia for the slang ‘how una dey’ because that was the only thing I said and I was not allowed to say any word further, nor crack any joke. I stylishly dropped the microphone and left the stage. Because of that singular action, I have always been conscious of that slang and it has been my habit to quickly step on stage whenever I discover any MC is trying to introduce me to big crowd. But that ugly incident was corrected when Abibaba later noticed that I was not myself after I returned home that day. I recounted what happened and he insisted that it must be corrected. We went there again the following month because it was a monthly show and after Alibaba performed, he gave me five minutes to convince the same crowd that had booed me the previous month. Before they knew it, they were thrilled and the crowd went wild and I told myself I had come to stay in the industry.
What was growing up like in Delta?
It was sweet. Growing up there affected my comic talent. You cannot grow up in that part and don’t have a sense of humour. Both old and young in the city are funny. I would say it is a comic city. The way you can trace Reggae music to Jamaicans and long distance race to Kenyans is the same way comedy is to the Deltans. As a comedian, you just need to visit Delta and hear a line that will bust your ribs and you come back here upgraded and begin to make money.
Have you ever used other comedian’s jokes before?
Yes. I have used Alibaba’s jokes before when I started, but then I don’t do other peoples’ jokes at public events. Except at private events. Sometimes when you do other comedians’ jokes, you credit them, but sometimes, others don’t. I would say 80 per cent of comedians used Alibaba’s jokes till late 2000. His jokes were trendy till comedians stopped using them in 2008. As a successful comedian, people can’t stop picking one or two of your jokes.
How did you conceive the idea of taking shows abroad?
The UK market started when I was creating stuff online. We later found out that 100,000 people had viewed our shows on Youtube. Some even passed comments and always making requests on when to bring the show abroad. We now did a research between America and United Kingdom and we discovered that a lot of people wanted us to come to the UK. I had to partner with a promoter in the UK and together we did the first one, the second and third, and it was a bang.
As a comedian, what really makes you laugh?
My clients. Especially when they show me the cheque. I laugh a lot, especially when I see the colour of the cheque and know the name of you bank or receive an alert (Laughs….)
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