Recycling jokes, a big problem – Koffi

What movie scripts, short stories and stage plays have you done? Over the years I have written quite a bit. Till date three movie scripts have been produced, two blackbirds, mumu movie and just recently ‘The Nanny’ (which stars Owen Gee, Doris Simeon, Funsho Adeolu, Lepacious Bose and other comedians including me). Some of the […]

What movie scripts, short stories and stage plays have you done?

Over the years I have written quite a bit. Till date three movie scripts have been produced, two blackbirds, mumu movie and just recently ‘The Nanny’ (which stars Owen Gee, Doris Simeon, Funsho Adeolu, Lepacious Bose and other comedians including me).

Some of the stage plays I have written include ‘Dead wrong’ (2001), ‘Once bitten’ (2002), Eregele-‘Dangerous Game’ (2003/2004), ‘Once upon a madman’ (2006/2007/2008), ‘The Last Molue’ (2011) ‘The other woman’ (2012). I have been in a lot of stage plays over the years, but most recently ‘Po!’ starring myself and Yaw in 2010

What has happened to the Chemistry part of you?

Taking a resting place in a laboratory somewhere. I haven’t ever considered working with my certificate, yet.

Which is more fun for you, music, play/movie work, or comedy?

Music is more fun, because it is my hobby. I just decided to take it seriously. Ccomedy is my main vocation, but drama allows me to express my alter egos like Chief Adiss A, John Jonathan Jones, Muta and Nanny Constance, among others.

You describe yourself as being gifted in the arts. Why didn’t you study that right away instead of Chemistry?

The arts come naturally to me and as you rightly said I should have studied the Arts, but I had a turnaround moment when I was moving from JSS 3 to SSS 1. I lost my aunt to tuberculosis and that gingered me to go to the sciences with the hope of becoming a Pharmacist in the future and cure people, but as fate would have it, I ended up as an entertainer and helping people ease stress with humour.

How seriously would you say Nigerians take comedians?

Indeed very seriously, because comedians now use political and social issues to relate with their audience and this makes them more of social commentators and a mirror of sorts

Earlier this year in an interview, you described Nigerian music as crap. Would that include yours?

Nigerian music is not crap, what I said was a lot of the new songs we hear are based on vanity. No moral content. I sing responsibly.

What informs this view in spite of the recognition that Nigerian acts have gained globally in recent times?

When you say gained globally is it in terms of content or music video push, besides it is indeed a limited few that foray into the diasporic envelope and as soon as they get on such platforms and cannot deliver on credible thoughts and ideals, they seem to wither. The world stage isn’t all about dance music and watery lyrics; people out there actually listen to good poetry and deep thoughts.

Do you enjoy the jokes of your fellow comedians?

Absolutely! I just finished laughing my head off to Gordons comedy clinic Ward 4 and Akpororo’s intro on Oritshefemi’s new album.

How original are Nigerian jokes, as presented by comedians like you?

Quite original because we mostly reflect and work with what we see around us.

How easy or difficult is it to create jokes?

Some materials come easy, some on the spot whilst some others take quite a while to build up. It is like writing a book. Sometimes it flows sometimes you have a brain block

Has it been a problem in the industry with people recycling other people’s jokes?

Mighty big problem but gradually it will resolve itself.

Who is your favourite comedian?

Owen Gee

How would you describe Koffi off-stage?

Koffi is a simple family man.

You have a lot of projects going on down south. Any plans of establishing something up north soon?

Not anytime soon.