‘How I handle women I don’t love’

What sacrifices was made on your part before the emergence of the brand, Fred Bright that radio listeners are fond of today? It has been a long journey right from the very first publication I had with Julius Agwu in Abuja. Everything started from Church services. I love God a lot. I was initially a […]

What sacrifices was made on your part before the emergence of the brand, Fred Bright that radio listeners are fond of today?

It has been a long journey right from the very first publication I had with Julius Agwu in Abuja. Everything started from Church services. I love God a lot.

I was initially a music director in church. Later I joined the drama unit where I honed my acting skills. I took part in several drama sketches. Initially, I thought I would be a footballer of course I love football with a passion and can play very well. Gradually I started discovering my talent as a broadcaster. The brand was not just established overnight. It took several years and sacrifice on my part. I suddenly knew I had a bright future hence my name Fred Bright which I now use on air. I have not arrived yet. The name has come to stay and is still growing. But I must say that it is all about God and not me. Without him it would have been impossible.

How easy was it for you connecting the comedy business with the radio presentation you more or less do now?

For me comedy comes first. The radio programme is just a way of me trying to reach out to my fan base. I am not an HOT FM staff. It is an independent program standing on its own. I can as well take, If nah you wetin, to another station if I so desire. It’s my concept and my show, but the support from the station management has been awesome. I never went for any formal training as a broadcaster. I just knew I could express myself and worked on the talent. On the first day I presented on the radio, I felt very bored. I felt it was odd talking and not getting response. As years went by, now I have grown to love it. Thank God for the call ins. Without that it wouldn’t have been funny. The interaction makes it interesting. The fact that so many people listen to the programme spurs me on. Whenever I am on air now, I feel as if there are about 10 million people watching and encouraging me. However, you see a different part of me on stage for example at corporate events where I do my comedy business. I also dance a lot. I am an all round entertainer and can be who you want me to be at any particular time.

How do you handle obstinate and insolent callers on radio?

It is not just on radio for me. It’s everywhere. Some people even walk up to me and insult me when I go out. My Bishop John Praise even calls me, my mumu son.

To them it is a way of fun or trying to get to you so that you can react. They actually want you to make jest in return. Some people believe you may not react well until they call you names such as idiot, mumu, etc. They want you to crack a joke in return. To me it is fun. The worst thing that can happen to any entertainer is for them to get angry on stage with the audience. Some of them are not literate so you should not expect much from them in terms of etiquette.

Some do not honestly know how to express themselves appropriately. You just have to love them equally no matter how they treat you. You just have to adjust to every situation you find yourself while on stage. Some of those who insult me on air are actually now my best friends that I keep in touch with regularly.

Comedy is seen as business for the unserious by some. Is this still the true perception?

Comedians are very serious people off stage. For those in the majority, it is just like any other business venture. It is a big business, but the flaw there is the tendency for people not to take you serious even when you really are.

There is also the ability to distinguish your job from your personality as a comedian which may be lacking in some. Outside my office for instance the man going home is Fredrick Oforma not Fred Bright. When I am not on stage I am a different person. Comedy business is a serious one for serious minded people. I have investments and projects I am working on even as a comedian. Comedy for me is just like any other business and I take it as such much the same for other comedians. It is the heart of the entertainment business. You make people laugh and make money in the process. When they laugh for free then you can say that it is not a serious venture.

How do you assess Nigerian comedy business?

It is still growing. Every other thing in Nigeria apart from corruption is still growing. We still need to nurture it to get to international standards. I have met some comedians abroad who even employ people to write and research on jokes for them. They teach them on how to arrive on punch-line. That is why you get to see people like Will Smith thrive. They deliver the same lines every time and in several places but still attract attention but this is because they put in a lot in terms of research. They have structures that are lacking for us in the comedy business in Nigeria. It is only few people like Ali Baba who have such structures on ground. He has a world class library that helps him in his work.

Many comedians just wake up and start thinking of what to say to people without doing their homework. Comedy business in Nigeria is developing. It will catch someday hopefully.

What marks out a good radio presenter?

It is your composure, your courage, fluency and ability to blend to situations.

You have to be in charge of what you are doing. You must not allow anybody confuse you. The most important thing is being in charge of the show. Once you are in charge, every other thing follows naturally.

What was the most embarrassing moment of your life on stage or radio?

I got drunk one day hanging out with friends. I don’t usually drink but that day was different. A little moment after that I attended a show and the audience started insisting that I come up to perform. I had to go up but I was unprepared and equally tipsy. I sighted one white man. I dwelt on the man so much through my jokes that people started getting uncomfortable with me. I ended up embarrassing myself as people were sympathetic to the man in the end and felt  pissed off with me rather than happy. It was so much that people started complaining. It still rankles till date. Ordinarily I won’t have done that had I not been drunk. I have had other embarrassing moments too.

How do you handle unwanted gestures from female fans?

I am always happy to relate with my fans. I have created a loving relationship with all my fans, not only females. Some of the females are sometimes infatuated but feel that they are in love with you. Some are obsessed with you even though they may have never met you, but you cannot date every woman who comes your way. The ones I honestly love are the bold ones who walk up to you and tell you that ‘hi Fred I love you and want to date you.’ I respect them. All I do then is to sit them down and tell them why I cannot do that. I can’t date every woman. All I can do is to be friendly and get to know them on non intimate level. I have sisters and friends among them now. I make up my mind that I must not quarrel with these people. I make it clean. Keeping it clean is my watch word with ladies. I respect their feelings a lot.