Looking at what comedy has grown to
become in our society today, we are
compelled to make conscious efforts to
revive the memories of those who started off
this aspect of art in this part of our world. It
is quite unfortunate that a lot of us are
already forgetting them under the influence
of the modern-day comedians. Worse still,
some of the upcoming youths and modern-
day comedians do not even know who were
the fore-fathers of comedy in this great
country of ours. We’re using this opportunity
to jog your memory a bit, in case you are
forgetting too soon. These are the major
founding fathers of comedy in Nigeria:

5. James Iroha (Gringory
Akabogu)
Though this veteran comedian and actor is
now late, that cannot stop us from bringing
up memories of him. This extra-ordinarily
comical fellow worked hand in hand with
Chika Okpala, (always acting as his
houseboy in most of the comic episodes)
through the period I’ll love to call the dawn
of comedy in our country, Nigeria. He was
one of those who engaged in comedy when
it was almost as good as nothing. Then, it
was done in the crudest but most hilarious
ways; granting tremendous relief Nigerian
men and women who were still hurting from
the pangs of the Nigerian Civil War . He was
also there at the early stages of Nollywood
and acted in such films as Nneka the Pretty
Serpent, among others. He died in 2012 at
the age of 69.

4. Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya
Okoroigwe Nwogbo, Alias
4:30)
The very young Nigerians may not have
been opportuned to enjoy his comedy audios
which were all over the place in the 80’s
and early 90’s. Chika Okpala is what I’ll
love to call a legend when it comes to the
history of Nigerian comedy. He is popularly
known as Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe
Nwogbo, an appellation he got from his role
as “Chief Zebrudaya” in the TV comedy
series New Masquerade(1983-1993). He,
together with some colleagues were the
ones who produced the classicals in African
comedy. This man became famous for using
incorrect English in his role as ‘chief
Zebrudaya’ and continued with that style
years after New Masquerade was rested.

3. John Chukwu (JC)
John Chukwu (JC) is regarded as one of the
founding fathers of stand-up or modern-day
comedy in Nigeria. He was a contemporary
of Ali Baba. He owned a Klass Nite Ckub, a
fun spot in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos in the
1980’s. He dedicated Fridays for comedy at
the club and presented a comedy
programme on NTA. John Chukwu brought
jokes to the doorsteps of Nigerians that in a
way suited the context in life. He used his
jokes to correct the ills in the society. JC
was a spontaneous comedian who saw life
from funny perspectives — so he made jokes
from everything about life and his spur of
the moment jokes were next to none. He
really lived to put smiles on people’s faces.
He made people everywhere to forget their
sorrows. Unfortunately, when his fame
peaked, the popular master of ceremonies
and comedian took ill and later died. The
likes of John include people like Late
Mohammed Danjuma, who was the first host
of the annual Nite of a thousand laughs
event. He died after a protracted illness on
October 7, 2005.

2. Jude Edesiri Onakpoma
(Away-Away)
The ex-Nigerian comedian, Jude Away-
Away, was one of the people who laid the
foundations of comedy for today’s Nigerian
comedians. He is a graduate of Sociology
and Anthropology from one of Nigeria’s Ivy
league Colleges – The University of Benin.
Jude started engaging in comedy right from
his undergraduate years back in the late
80’s. Here is what he had to say about his
journey in the comedy art:
I was the first Nigerian university
graduate to perform “stand-up”
comedy. I branded the comedy
business and made it a business to
thrive on, with respect and dignity. I
performed for royalty and the Nigerian
elite society. I also performed back in
the days for everyone, including the
less privileged. I would dress in
business attires. Most known
comedians on television screens then
were clowns. Their materials were
stereotypes then, yet the audience was
forced to laugh along because they
presented their materials by being
clowns. I refused to be a clown.”
He now resides in the US and is still a
music-comedian and a doctor of clinical
psychology, working with behavioural health
patients in New York and Connecticut.
Combining the two professions to help
mental patients.

1. Alleluia Akporobome (Ali
Baba)
Alibaba is actually the one and only man
who gave final credence and meaning to
comedy in Nigeria. He is the one, I’ll say
who made comedy to become “something”
– a rewarding business.
Comedy did not become serious business
until Alleluia Atunyota Akporobomeriere,
alias, Ali Baba, came on the scene. He had
done his first show in 1988, at the pavilion
of then Bendel State University, Ekpoma, for
a paltry fee of fifty naira only (Umukoro 4).
Ali Baba dared the odds of negative public
perceptions to have a breakthrough in
comedy. He took to this genre of art when
comedians were seen as “ne’er-do-wells”.
He has dimmed the impressive record of his
precursors, such as the late John Chukwu
(JC), Tony St. Iyke, and much later, Jude
Away Away, who were good, great men that
were into stand-up comedy, but did not take
it to the level Ali Baba has done. By 1998,
Ali registered a company, Ali Baba
Hiccupurathird. That year, he erected three
billboards in strategic locations in Lagos:
Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island;
Osborne Road, Ikoyi; and Marina, Lagos,
paying N150,000 for each billboard per year.
The billboards carried a simple message:
“Ali Baba – Being Funny is Serious
Business;” and it signaled the
transformation in the business of stand-up
comedy in the country.
The 50-year-old Alibaba has been a
professional stand up comedian for straight
22 years and has in the last 14 years
received several awards. Today, it is
generally agreed that it is Ali Baba that gave
comedy “the beautiful face” it wears in
Nigeria, and as well became the first
comedian to be well paid in the country.
This is what he has to say in one of his
numerous interviews:
Before, people do not know how much
comedians are paid. But thank God
that top comedians in the country are
blowing up and they are getting
respect from people. Look at Julius
Agwu, Baskethmouth, Tee A, Okey
Bakassi, AY… they are all doing well
and we thank God for that.”

James Iroha (Gringory
Akabogu)

Chaiii, these are men who used their talents to correct some ills in the country from a comic point.
Most of what we have today are men eager to satisfy their selfish gratification.
My respect!!!

xpac01:
Chaiii, these are men who used their talents to correct some ills in the country from a comic point.
Most of what we have today are men eager to satisfy their selfish gratification.
My respect!!!

u ar right bro ...dis generation comedian ...ar doing it for d money

"Forget them NOT"

Alibaba, u wise sha!

.....Just Know Zebrudaya.

Meanwhile,

[size=20pt]CaPaBLeBeN[/size] was here,

Expect my edifying single soon...#HoldOn