In my country, it took a while before the entertainment industry really got off the ground. While the western world was already blossoming and pumping money into the entertainment sector in the late 90s, here it was seen as a sector for poor, talentless, no-hopers who couldn't make it in school. In fact, entertainment of any kind, be it sports, music, dance, drama or comedy, was presumably for those with no future ambition. Parents warn their children against it. My mum yelled at me a couple of times for playing football when in school. Once I heard the bold line, "Na book I send you school to read, no be to dey play ball," I just know I'm in some serious trouble.
While football was gradually blossoming at the grassroots due to the heroics at the '96 Olympics, other forms of entertainment like music, dance and drama was a no go area. You either sing as a choir in the church or get labelled a belligerent child for attempting to start music in the first place. Comedy? That wasn't even classified as entertainment of any sort. Anyone who tried it was viewed as an absolute idiot. Well, that's what I understood till I heard a certain man, Gbenga Adeboye, combined music and comedy in unique fashion.
In short, Gbenga Adeboye's clips opened my eyes into what comedy was all about. Unfortunately, the incredibly talented man died an untimely death. Before his death, comedy was gradually becoming an important part of the movies in town back then. Dudes like Baba Suwe, Moladun and a couple others infused comedy into movies. But while they made everyone laugh at the instant, their product had no resale value and each time you watch again they sound more stupid than funny.
That was how it remained for me until I stumbled upon a video clip of Opa Williams' awesome production 'Nite Of A Thousand Laughs.' I didn't know the production had been on for a while, but the first one I saw changed every orientation I had about comedy as a proper entertainment. Before then, comedy to me was nothing but a production of clowns for people who are willing to laugh senselessly; after, I saw a new light. I Go Dye was funny but awesome at the same time, Klint Da Drunk looked stupid but addressed important societal issues with his stupidity; the likes of Gandoki, Omo Baba and Basketmouth made me laugh but passed across important messages. From that day, I saw comedy became proper entertainment, a voice that can be used to address important issues in a funny, relaxed mode.
Since then, I've seen a lot of comedy shows, but the comedian that remains my favorite is none other than I Go Dye. Asides the very unusual name - coined from his name Francis Agoda - I Go Dye is an incredibly talented comedian who can create jokes out of any situation. He's so good that he somehow cracks jokes that are clearly not part of the script, jokes he thought about right on the spot, and it will be very educational and funny.
For all his undoubted creativity, one thing that stood out for me was his originality. When comedy got mainstream and other comedians were trying to act posh, I Go Dye remained that local Warri dude with a relentless amount of jokes delivered through originality. After gaining limelight, I Go Dye has continued to use his platform to address societal issues. He is a United Nations ambassador and has continued to work on helping to achieve the Millennium Development goals across Africa. I'm yet to see a comedian take his place in my heart. For now, he's my best.
