The Nigerian entertainment industry is a massive one. It has become one of our biggest exports to the world. The movies, music videos, arts exhibitions etc all spice up this buoyant industry. There is no way we would talk about the Nigerian industry without talking about comedy.
Before now, people looked down on comedians but now many are going into the comedy business because of how lucrative it has become. As we are take a throwback, we would look at a few of the forerunners of comedy in Nigerians. Let’s see if you can remember these:
1. Chinwetalu Agu
64-year-old Chiwetalu Agu is a veteran Nollywood actor, comedian and movie producer who is known for his usage of specific language slang, phrases or clichés in each film he has ever featured.
2. Sam Loco Efe
Before his death, Sam Loco Efe was one of Nollywood’s finest comic actors. He was known for cracking ribs non-stop in movies he featured in. His first experience with acting was at his school when a theatre group came to stage a play called ‘The Doctor In Spite of Himself’,
3. Nkem Owoh
Nkem Owoh is a Nigerian actor and comedian. In 2008 he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Owoh became popular after starring in the 2003 film Osuofia in London. The character’s name has become his alias in the industry as it is what put him in the spotlight.
4. John Okafor
John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu is a Nollywood famous actor and comedian. Okafor is considered to be one of Nigeria’s most talented comic characters as his humorous acting is often characterised by stupidity,
5. Sunday Omobolanle
Sunday Omobolanle (MON) aka Papi Luwe, is a Veteran Nollywood comic actor, playwright, film director and producer. Sunday Omobolanle has scripted, directed, produced and featured in several Nigerian films such as Adun Ewuro, a 2011 Nigerian film that featured Adebayo Salami.
6. Babatunde Omidina
Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe is a Veteran Yoruba actor and comedian. He began acting in 1971 but came into limelight after he featured in a movie titled, Omolasan, a film produced by Obalende. He became more popular after he featured in Iru Esin, produced by Olaiya Igwe in 1997.
7. Moses Olaiya Adejumo
Moses Olaiya Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala, was a veteran Nigerian comedian, dramatist and actor. Baba Sala was regarded as the father of modern Nigerian comedy. He was a prolific filmmaker who started his career in show business as a Highlife musician, fronting in 1964 a group known as the Federal Rhythm Dandies where he tutored and guided the jùjú music maestro King Sunny Adé who was his lead guitar player.
8. Victor Osuagwu
Former president of the Lagos State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Victor Osuagwu is a seasoned Nollywood comic actor, producer, who won the City People Movie Special Recognition Award at the City People Entertainment Awards. He officially became recognized as a Nigerian actor in 1997. Osuagwu debuted into the Nigerian movie industry Nollywood with the second part of a movie titled Evil Passion 2 whilst an undergraduate in the university.