Thelma Osatohanmwen
Renowned comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has asserted his influence in shaping the landscape of Nigerian comedy.
In a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, co-hosted by actor Chinedu Ani Emmanuel and Husband Material, Alibaba revealed that he is the creative force behind a significant portion of jokes told by Nigerian comedians.
Known as the ‘King of comedy,’ Alibaba addressed the issue of comedians recycling his jokes while not acknowledging his contributions to the comedy industry. Despite being a source of inspiration for many, he expressed frustration with the lack of recognition.
In the podcast episode, Alibaba stated, “Sometimes some people will say I am not helping, but 4/5 of the jokes you are telling are mine.” He recounted an incident where a popular skit maker used a joke from 1988 without giving due credit, highlighting the pervasive issue of jokes being repurposed without acknowledgment.
The comedy veteran emphasized the importance of crediting originators, sharing an example of a skit inspired by his 1988 joke about a peculiar incident in Warri. Alibaba urged both skit makers and comedians to recognize and acknowledge the original creators of content ideas.
