You can’t treat comedy like music – I Go Save

How did the name ‘I Go Save’ come about?I chose the name I Go Save because I came to realize that people die very young even before the ages of twenty five, thirty. I find that in a lot of cases it is because they don’t get the chance to simply relax and enjoy a […]

How did the name ‘I Go Save’ come about?
I chose the name I Go Save because I came to realize that people die very young even before the ages of twenty five, thirty. I find that in a lot of cases it is because they don’t get the chance to simply relax and enjoy a good laugh.
I feel laughter is medicinal and I save people by making them laugh. It keeps you healthy. My real name is Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke.
What inspires your jokes?
Hmmm I would say my surroundings play a lot in my jokes; then happenstance as well as my meditations. But most of all, happenstance I think has influenced them predominantly.
When things happen I try to transform, convert and put them together to emulate jokes and provoke laughter. This is one great way for me to create my jokes.
How did you delve into comedy?
We were doing mock news around 1992/1993; I Go Die and I on Delta TV Top Show every Saturday.  It was a very popular show back then which metamorphosed into standup comedy. When standup comedy became the new wave, we also had to go along with it. So we went our separate ways and began doing standup comedy. 
Do you miss not being with as a team?
We are still together. We are still best friends. We have been friends for over twenty years and it is still counting.
How did being in Warri influence your career path as a comedian?
When you talk about comedy in this country, Warri has played a major role in influence the trend. Warri is the home of comedy. You will hardly find a person in Warri who doesn’t have a sense of humour; whether old, young or middle age. Each one ordinarily possesses some sense of humour.
If not comedy what is it that would have given you this much pleasure?
Maybe football; which I played very well. The other thing is what I studied in school, Painting and General Art. I still paint. But art still has a long way to go in terms of it being appreciated in Nigeria. Although it is beginning to gain grounds so every now and again I find time to paint. I have a few collectors within and outside Nigeria whom have taken keen interest in my works. This gives me good money. Making a name for myself in comedy gives me an edge to sell my painting expensive.
Not that they are worth selling expensive…
They are more than worth selling expensive. I graduated from Auchi Polytechnic which for a while was rated the best art school in the whole of Africa.
How well would you say that artists have helped push the trade forward?
I don’t blame artists for the state of visual art in Nigeria. I rather blame the Government for not playing their part.
First of all, our tourist attractions are not treated with respect. We have art pieces which were stolen during the Benin excavation till date they are yet to retrieve them. I can’t say for sure how much effort have been put in that regard but I dare say, not much.
The Monalisa portrait rose in value because of how many times it was stolen and each time it was retrieved. In my view the Federal Government has not done anything for the appreciation of art in Nigeria because it is still very much something reserved for the elites.
The platform hasn’t been created for it. I don’t know of any visual art festival that takes place in this country the way the Federal Government organises petroleum, commerce or agric festivals. It is artists themselves who come together to make these things happen. This is one sector that they really need to invest in because of the returns it will bring to Nigeria.
Are there particular themes you like to treat with your art?
Not necessarily but I do a lot of satire with my works and at other times, I simply paint as I feel at that point in time. Things I satirize are oil theft, cultism, child labour and rape. These are some of the things I fight through my works. 
Sometimes it can take me five hours putting just one line together because my thoughts and expressions flow easily. It could also take me about three hours to explain that one line.
For comedy, comedy isn’t music that you plan for and then sing. You can sing one track for years.
But with comedy, there is what we call spontaneity. You come on stage, you see some things and they make you laugh. There are things that could happen on the spot which you pick and make comedy out of.
The things I do with my painting are what I do with comedy.
Have you had tough moments on stage when you were worried your audience would not respond to you?
(Laughter) They have happened a lot, but by the grace of God I have always conquered them. But with the experiences I have had over the years, I’m getting less and less worried about such things. I just pray, go on stage and do my thing.