I can do anything to make people laugh – Owen Gee
Growing up was wonderful, I grew up in an average Nigerian home with parents and three siblings being the first of four children, started entertainment quite early because I was a dancer from two years old and became professional at the age of eight years, by 12 years I was already in a musical group […]
Growing up was wonderful, I grew up in an average Nigerian home with parents and three siblings being the first of four children, started entertainment quite early because I was a dancer from two years old and became professional at the age of eight years, by 12 years I was already in a musical group called Dynamic Five.
I grew up in the era where I listened to Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Lionel Richie, Onyeka Onwenu, Christy Essien and Sonny Okosun.
I also had good encouragement to do entertainment from my parents which is why my two brothers and I ended up being entertainers.
You seem to be into various entertainment areas. Which one of them best describes you?
I would best want to be described as a comedian/entertainer and I put comedy first because that is what brought me to limelight, I engage myself in a whole lot of things within the industry to show that I can also be multi-talented.
How and when did you venture into comedy?
I started in 2001 but started making money from it in 2002. I was a member of a rap group called Ur Uncles From The Psychiatric Hospital but had to stop when at one of my shows with my rap mates people started heckling us. I had to stop the deejay to return the heckles. So the organisers thought I was better as a comedian than as a rapper. I went on to do almost all my school shows after that as a standup comedian in my final year.
What is ‘Saint and Silly’ about and is it out yet?
It is basically a situation comedy that describes the life of two graduates who decide to make a living from owning a bar as they couldn’t get any other paid employment; but each time they had to seek extra means to survive as their bar could hardly take care of their needs.
What have you been up to lately?
This has been the most successful year yet in my career as an entertainer, it’s not about noise making but about proper branding and placements. It’s been my busiest year ever as I have travelled to perform thrice outside this country, spent half of the year doing weddings and corporate events and I also shot ‘Saint and Silly’ for a month, and played a lead role in Super Story. I am gearing up to shoot my own TV show. So it’s about being everywhere but being in the right place at the right time for the right price.
There are rumours you are taking on movies soon as well?
You seem to hear and know a lot about me; somebody is feeding you my personal information (laughing). Yes I will be taking on a few movie roles very soon. I have about three scripts with me as we speak but going through them to make sure that I will be spreading the right information to my viewers.
You did Pari popo with Da Grin. How did it feel losing a colleague and especially one who seemed to have such a promising future?
DaGrin was one of the best rap artistes to have come out of this continent and it is a huge loss to our entertainment industry. He brought in something fresh and different with his style of rhymes and was close to me. I heard his album before it was released and I knew it would be a massive hit.
I still see him in my dreams from time to time and will never let his memory die. I was privileged to have anchored the only concert he had as an artiste when he was alive. It is sad that I will never get to see him release another album, RIP GRIN.
Krazy Comedy seems more popular in the UK than in Nigeria. Has it come to Nigeria yet?
I actually started running it in Nigeria first and just took a bit of it to the U.K., currently working on that part of my brand again and don’t want to let the cat out of the bag but will inform you fully once I am done.
Do you think Nigerian artistes see their artistry as a way of selling and promoting their nation?
Yes they do and they are doing a good job of it too. You can see the various international awards and recognitions we keep getting from outside the country. We also have a lot of entertainers getting ambassadorial positions and entertainment is one of the major means of promoting peace and unity within the country.
There are so many comedians springing and good ones too. How competitive do you think the industry has become?
Very competitive I must say, and a healthy one which brings improvement to the industry. But I also must mention that just like every industry you have professionals at different levels 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class and then quacks.
How do you keep your jokes rolling so that they are interesting?
I am an interesting person to be with and have a sense of humour. I also don’t joke with creativity and I am very observant. I try to think outside the box and keep it funny.
What is most challenging about creating and cracking a joke?
It definitely is figuring out if it will be funny, creating is one thing and delivery is another, there are comics and there are comedians, and I would describe myself as a comedian.
Some people say comedy was taking a nose dive and that is why you decided to go into television production. Is that true and if not why are you into television?
I am sorry but you would find out that people will always have their personal opinions whether negative or positive. I decided to add to my many feathers of success in the comedy industry by following in the footsteps of comedy geniuses in the UK and USA in the likes of Eddie Murphy whom a lot of us knew from ‘Coming to America’ and not his stand up performances. Judging from the many exposures I have opened up in the last two years, it is clear that comedy greats abroad at one time or the other had to step up their game to movies to make more money. Icons like Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams and Whoopie Goldberg, did this. I am a comedian and can do anything to make people laugh be it stand up, stage plays, TV, radio or musicomedy as long as am able to make a living and feed my family from it. I have stepped up and will continue to raise the bar and standard.
Of television and comedy which do you find tougher and/or more fun?
Both have their challenges and fun sides. It really depends on your approach to it. Some good standup comedians can’t act and some good comic actors can’t crack jokes. I am privileged to be able to do both and think they are both challenging in delivery.
What has been your most challenging work?
Every work I do is challenging but its approach to the challenge that matters, I try to be as natural as I can and leave the rest to God.
You were in Kenya not too long ago. What’s the perception of Nigeria as they see it from our movies?
Well, they seem to think that we are diabolic in Nigeria and I had to correct that impression a lot, but I will also state that our movies and actors are very, very popular there. Which is part of why I started doing films because international recognition is key. Comedy is not as popular as movies over there and am known better as an actor even in Kano than as a comedian-funny right.
How would you say the departure of Sam Loco Efe has affected the entertainment industry in Nigeria?
His departure is a huge loss to the industry, he was not appreciated enough when he was alive and was one of the very few actors that could speak different dialects, he cannot be replaced but like they always do in Nigeria he will soon start receiving a lot of post humus awards.
You just had a second son. How have you been able to juggle your career and family life?
It is interesting being a father for a second time, it has made me a better person from when I had my first child, I have become calmer and wiser, more loving and more appreciative of the Lord. I have also had to make more sacrifices and make more money to be able to take care of the new addition.
Would you mind your children taking after you?
They should have minds of their own but I will support them if they choose to tow my line.