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Nigerian
Stand-Up Comedy - A Fast Rising Form of Entertainment by
Richard Lolu
Initially
it was the movie and music part of the entertainment industry
that started to grow and shows various levels of development.
Nigerian movies now get shown on satellite TV and have managed
to gain a followership from a number of African countries.
Today Nigerian Movie stars have managed to extend their
fame beyond the shores of the country. This acclaims to
why some of the stars are getting international deals. Good
instances are those of Jim Iyke who before the ban was at
some time billed to model for an international designer
and Genevieve Nnaji who was chosen to be the next face to
grace the wrapper of the Lux beauty soap which would circulate
the African continent.
Looking
at Music, Nigeria has been able to produce over the span
of 3 to 4 years a new wave of youthful talents that have
manage to burst beyond the country's shores and like their
movie counterparts are enjoying the same acclaim. The list
of these talents spanning different genres; R&B, Hip
Hop, Jazz, highlife, afrobeat etc. are endless; Trybesmen,
Tooshort, Tuface, faze alone, Tony Tetuila, Keffee, Sammie
Okposo, Sasha, Asu Ekiye, Kunle, Ruggedman, Azadus, Femi
Kuti, Lagbaja and so on.
Some of them have won African music awards and have become
forces to reckon with in African music. Today Nigerian music
videos are shot and produced with state of the art equipment
and the visual effects are stunning. This probably explains
why Channel O had to draw closer to the Nigerian
music industry and MTV base had to extend its roots
to Nigeria aside from other African music TV stations. No
doubt Nigerian Movies and Music are carving a niche in African
entertainment.
Besides
all that, there's another new wave of entertainment that's
building fast in Nigeria and that's the stand-up comedy.
Stand
-up comedy was never a form of Nigerian entertainment. The
closest to it was that of the ancient court jesters and
the local comedians we usually came across in Nigerian Yoruba
movies. However Nigerian stand -up comedy is becoming a
very well accepted form of entertainment. Of note is the
fact that this form of entertainment is actually something
copied from the western culture. But Nigerian comedians
at the height of their own creativity have evolved it into
their own colorful version which makes use, most of the
time, of the widely spoken lingua franca of adulterated
English popularly known as pidgin English. It's even spiced
up when mimicked in the various indigenous Nigerian accents.
Today
Nigerian Stand-up comedy shows have stormed not only the
stages, and auditoriums but also TV and radio as some of
them have shows on the airwaves. The shows parade the stars
of stand up comedy; Julius di genius Agwu, Basorge Tariah,
Ali Baba, I go die, Tee-A, Teju Babyface, Basketmouth, Holy
Mallam, Owen Gee, Koffi, Gandoki, Klint D drunk, Okey Bakassi,
Princess
and the list goes on. Majority of the
stand-up acts happen to be male. Only of recent did the
females begin to spring up with the likes of Princess, Mandy,
and a host of others who are upcoming.
Since the debut of "A Nite of a thousand laffs",
many other shows have come up from time to time; Julius
Agwu's "Crack ya Ribs", Basorge Tariah's "Unleash
de comedy" Holy Mallam's "Holy Laughter"
Basketmouth's "Basketmouth Reloaded" Okey Bakassi's
"Laughter Fiesta"...etc. Some have even gone as
far as releasing music comedy albums like Julius Agwu's
'Okombo' and 'My style'; Holy Mallam's about-to-be-released
"Bench warmer".
Organizers
of various music shows and concerts now include stand-up
acts to color up their events. Obviously, there's nothing
as interesting and amusing as a business of making people
laugh. There have been many instances where events get dull
and boring until a stand-up act comes on strange to release
some comic relief. They even perform at various ceremonies
and parties.
Countless shows have taken place over the period and many
of them have gone innovative-wise coming up with special
stand-up shows for selected audience such as gospel stand-up
comedy, comedy for the family
etc
Naija
stand-up comics are so creative such that most of them have
a trademark or a particular style of delivery they are noted
for.
For
instance Klint da drunk is known for coming to the
stage in a drunken stupor and a rough state of dressing.
He delivers his lines like a real drunk (which is an act
because he's actually not drunk) He reminds you of Nkem
Owoh's drunk performances in some of our home movies.
He usually adds a dance sequence or to his performance and
also sings funny songs.
Julius Agwu is known for his funny dances and ridiculous
voice mimicry which sounds like something from a cartoon.
His face is equally funny looking and he gives a good show
of crazy contorted expressions.
Holy Mallam is noted for Hausa-accented delivery
which is done in a cool calm and serious attitude.
I go die is noted for behaving typically like a Warri
boy. (Now note that Warri is the region where the funniest
versions of the Pidgin English originated) His accent clearly
says it all.
Tee-A is actually a parodist. He is so ever jovial
and makes a complete fool of himself while taking time to
thoroughly make fun of the audience. He is also noted for
good impersonations.
Ali Baba who has been in the business far longer
than most of the others just stands and talks and demonstrates
but
his delivery is incredible and you just can't help but laugh.
He happens to be one of the most respected stand-up acts.
His high profile qualified him to be the Aso Rock stand-up
comedian
Gandoki is full of drama and is so creative in demonstrating
scenes of his delivery it won him an award.
There
are many others who have special style of delivery which
has made their performances unique. It was just of recent
that the females also started doing stand-up comedy. In
the lead is Princess who is fast rising from the
stables of Tee-A.
Stand-up
comedy has come to stay in Naija and has found its roots.
Today you can buy the shows recorded on CDs and DVDs just
incase you didn't catch the fun live. It's the new entertainment
rave in the country and more and more innovations and ideas
to it keep springing up every day.
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