Nigerian stand-up comedian and Nollywood actor, Bovi Ugboma, has recalled the close bond that existed among comedians during the early stages of their careers.
Bovi said comedians such as Seyi Law, I Go Die, I Go Save and Okey Bakassi regularly performed together on major comedy platforms across the country, including Night of a Thousand Laughs and the Glo Comedy Tour.
Speaking in a recent interview, the comedian said the performers spent considerable time together and operated like one big family.
“All comedians used to be on ‘Night of a Thousand Laughs’ or ‘Glo Comedy Tour’ round the nation.
“We used to spend time together; you will see Seyi Law, I Go Die, I Go Save, Okey Bakassi, we were one big family, until Basketmouth did ‘Basketmouth Uncensored’, so we started discovering our individual strengths,” he said.
Bovi explained that Basketmouth’s Uncensored played a significant role in changing the way Nigerian comedians approached their careers.
According to him, the show encouraged comedians to move beyond the traditional shared comedy circuit and focus on developing their individual identities, styles and audiences.
Basketmouth, whose real name is Bright Okpocha, demonstrated how a comedian could attach his name to a major comedy production and build the platform around his personal brand.
Bovi said the development inspired other comedians to explore their individual potential and pursue independent projects.
Basketmouth’s rise in the Lagos comedy scene began around 2000 when he performed at a concert titled Hanging Out with the Home Boys, before eventually becoming one of Nigeria’s most prominent comedians.
