My biggest fear is not making people laugh – Chuks D General

Israel Chukwuyem Jude, known by his stage name Chuks D General, is an Abuja-based comedian, MC and on air personality with Wazobia FM. The Delta State-born comedian in this interview with Weekend Magazine, shares how he carved a niche for himself in comedy and lots more.   Weekend Magazine: What made you choose comedy as […]

Israel Chukwuyem Jude, known by his stage name Chuks D General, is an Abuja-based comedian, MC and on air personality with Wazobia FM. The Delta State-born comedian in this interview with Weekend Magazine, shares how he carved a niche for himself in comedy and lots more.

 

Weekend Magazine: What made you choose comedy as a career?

Israel Chukwuyem Jude: I’m one of those people who jump into discovery. It wasn’t like we were very poor and couldn’t eat like every other comedian would say, and so I decided to start comedy, no. I’ve always been a very confident person while in secondary school, I did debates both in school and church.  I didn’t know those platforms would launch me into something big in the future.

I often went for debates in secondary school but what actually led me to discover my talent in comedy was the day I came third in a quiz competition. Normally, at the local government level, they select those who came first and second for the state level. Though I came third in the quiz, they still went along with me. After the quiz for those who came first and second, they held another one for those who came third just to while away time. Some sang, others danced and then I picked up the microphone and made them laugh and for that particular competition, I came first. 

So when I got to the university, I realized that what I was doing back in secondary school is something I can do professionally. I started holding events for free to showcase my talent. And that’s how my career took off. From there I started mastering the art.

WM: What was your first stage experience like?

Jude: My first professional gig was when I had to perform at a university campus show. When I walked onto the stage, my fellow students expected me to make them laugh and I found that quite difficult. At first, I felt troubled because I asked myself ‘what if they end up not laughing’. You also consider the money that you’ve been paid. What if you don’t deliver? The pressure was overwhelming. That was majorly the experience for me. I go by the belief that what’s worth doing is worth doing well. So I kept asking myself, what if I don’t do well? Such thoughts clouded my mind. 

WM: How do you prepare before going on stage?

Jude: Well, there are different types of comedy. There’s stand-up comedy where you are the story teller. There is stage act as well where you have to act, sometimes like mad man, just to make your audience laugh. But what I do is called spontaneous comedy. I pick up the microphone and just make people laugh. So because I’m a spontaneous comedian, what I do before going on stage is just to make sure I know the event I’m going for. If it’s a wedding, I find out a bit about the bride and groom. It is important to know the type of event I’m performing at. When I get on stage, I just talk and people start laughing.

WM: How have you been able to master your acts overtime?

Jude: God has just been there for me and I have continued to grow. But like in Abuja where everybody knows you and you’re doing weddings every other Saturday, you have to find a way to be different and special. I just observe things that happen around me in my everyday life and write them down. Sometimes ideas come as I take a walk or as I hang around people and I try to find humour in it. I’ve also realized that the craziest and interesting things happen around Abuja suburbs like Nyanya, Mararaba or places such as Ajegunle in Lagos. At times, I just get up and enter a bus to Masaka simply to observe and see what is happening in that area. 

WM: Which comedian would you say has had the most impact on you?

Jude: I can’t give just one name so I’m going to have to list a few. The likes of Ali Baba, AY, Akpororo are all inspirations to me. But I also view them from different perspectives. For maturity and conceptualization, Ali Baba is one guy I look up to. For ideas and concepts, I look up to AY. These are people who have impacted and inspired me directly with support and much more. For career growth, it’s Seyi Law. He was the first comedian to take me to Dublin, Ireland.

WM: So, what was it like performing for a completely different audience outside Nigeria?

Jude: I was bothered at first because someone actually spent his or her money to fly you out to perform, so you have to deliver. But I learnt that their sense of humour is very high so it’s easier to make them laugh because things that happen in Nigeria seem very weird to them. For example, telling them that someone was in the bathroom taking a shower and the water went off is hilarious to them or going to the barbers and in the middle of a haircut, NEPA takes light.

WM: What plans do you have in the future? Do you intend to go into acting, music or is there something already in the pipeline?

Jude: I am just a young guy who started his career, not expecting it to blow the way it has but has realized that God is there for me. Some things are not predictable in life. Things happen and you thank God when they do. I have already accepted that I’m a young man, set on a lane to ‘wow’ the world and it is unfolding one step at a time. That being said, I do want to go into acting, both stage and screen. But my major project now is my show, ‘Generally Speaking.’

WM: Regarding ‘Generally Speaking’, what made you start the show (in 2016) and how would you describe the progress of the show over the past 2 years?

Jude: I once told one of my fellow comedians that I don’t understand why comedians do shows. But with time, I realized that people loved watching me perform. So I decided, why not gather comedians from all over the country once a year and those who love watching my act under one roof? But I’ve kept the show in Abuja because that’s where most of my fan base is. It’s not something I did to make money, no. But something I did because I wanted to gather those who appreciate and enjoy my act to watch, and also watch other great comedians perform as well. It’s all just to entertain. The first one was successful, the second one, we had to expand and hold it at the Congress Hall in Hilton so that we could accommodate more people and this year, it’s going to be even bigger and better. One day, I aim to see thousands of people gather simply because they love my act. Someday, my show will move beyond Abuja to other states across the country.

WM: How do you relax?

Jude: The job I do is a passion; it’s relaxation to me. People find relaxation listening or watching comedy too. It’s something I wouldn’t mind doing 365 days a year non-stop. I am relaxed doing it. Even when travelling, I do so comfortably so I have nothing to complain about.