Entertainment
How Arinze Baba Revived Comedy In Rivers
Stand-up comedy once
regarded as a pastime of the unserious and the uneducated, has transformed into a big business, turning its practitioners into millionaires and throwing up a huge industry with several direct employment opportunities and support services.
It would be recalled that before now, comedians were regarded as mere jesters and clowns used at intervals of events and paid pittance, but today, through Oprah Williams Night of a Thousand Laughs, he made Nigerians realize that comedy is a veritable business venture and Nigerians now have to pay to laugh. In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State, capital modern comedy business could be traced to the exploits of Arinze Baba.
The ace comedian has been recognised as the brain behind the introduction of modern comedy in Port Harcourt City. He initiated the first Port Harcourt comedy club right from his days at Army Day Secondary School, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt. His funny, humble and calm nature pierces the heart of many on whose faces he leaves genuine smiles. This multi-talented comedian left video shooting and editing for professional comedy. The Badagry, Lagos State-born humour merchant was born and brought up in the oil rich city of Port Harcourt where he started his comedy career in 1998, but went professional in 2004 when he first performed at a comedy events titled “Day of a Thousand Laugh held in Port Harcourt.
In a recent interview, he stated that his major triumph is that he was the first non-indigenous comedian to have come this far in the oil-rich city. He disclosed that when he came to Port Harcourt comedy industry, he met the likes of Yibo Koko, Mic Ogbolosinger, Michael Ogolo, Iyowuna Obumanu, Basurge Tariah and a host of others who were either indigenes or based in the state.
The comedian, who is also known as the Boss to the boss of the boss recalled that when he came into the comedy scene in the state, he faught for the growth of the industry which is evident in what we see or hear around us today, stressing that the movers and shakers of comedy business in the city of Port Harcourt came from his struggles, “this is why I said I am the boss to the boss of the boss, they all see me as a father, leader, brother and friend”, he stated.
He noted that as part of celebrating his birthday he hosted a talent hunt in search of new potentials and eventually the crowd declared both Warri boy and Mic Advisers as the winners of the contest, this was on 15th of July 2012, he disclosed that he also initiated a Comedy Club called ‘funny house’ with the sole objectives of discovering new potentials, promoting and improving the Port Harcourt Comedy business at large which has never been done before in the state.
According to him, Funny House started 1st July 2012, with its maiden edition which was also used as Chelsea FC’s victory party, he paraded the likes of Chuddy K, Paulyno (qualified doctor), Prince Hezekiah, Wonder, Jesse and Walenayo, it was gathered that the success of the first edition made the second edition a bomb on the 5th of August, parading the likes of slow dog. Dan the Humourous, Donald Diva, Sparta E. and the two winners of the maiden edition of the talent hunt, Warri Boy and M. C. Adviser.
Commenting on the Nigerian Comedy Clan, Arinze described Ali Baba, Basket Mouth, AY, I Go Dye and Gordon as his first five favourite comedians “I like Ali Baba for his presentation (English jokes), I like Basket Mouth for his business sense, I like AY for his packaging, I like I Go Die for his creativity and I like Gordon for his energy”, he said.
Apart from the Port Harcourt based comedians, other veteran humour merchants in Nigeria include late Mohammed Danjuma, Sam Loco Efe, Boma Erokosima, Sammie Needle, Junior and Pretty all of blessed memories. Francis Duru, Okey Bakassi, I Go Dye, Bovi, I Go Save, Dandoki, M.C Abbey, Klint de drunk, Teju Baby Face, Maleke, Holy Mallam, Elenu, M.C Shakara, Onyebuchi Ojieh (Bauchi), Emeka Smith, Dave Sikpa, Princess, Lepacious Bose, among others. These professional comedians are reputed for their exploits and ribcracking jokes that put smiles on the faces of their audience as they smile to the banks at the end.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.