LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-Veteran comedian and industry trailblazer, Alibaba, has raised concerns over what he described as a growing lack of professionalism among a new generation of Nigerian comedians.
Speaking on a recent episode of the “Outside The Box” podcast, the man often referred to as the “King of Nigerian Comedy” criticized some of his colleagues, particularly three unnamed popular comedians for crossing the line between humor and disrespect.
“There are about three Nigerian comedians I can’t stand. They have no decorum. They insult sensibilities. You try to correct them, they won’t listen. You send them to a corporate event, and they go there and tell dirty jokes,” Alibaba said.
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He shared a troubling example from a past event where he had recommended a comedian to host a corporate function. Instead of maintaining professionalism, the comedian reportedly made a tasteless joke targeting the company chairman’s plus-size wife.
“He said, ‘If a race happens now and everyone has to carry their wives and run, you can’t carry this woman and run.’ That’s below the belt,” Alibaba recounted. “When I confronted him, he downplayed it and told someone I was only coming at him because he’s shining.”
The comedy icon emphasized the need for comedians to understand the boundaries of tasteful humor, particularly in professional and formal settings.
While he declined to name those he was referring to saying he didn’t want to jeopardize their careers, he advised that comedians should invest in crafting smart, intelligent jokes that don’t rely on cheap shots or body-shaming.
“Comedy is not an excuse to be offensive. There’s a way to be funny and still be respectful. That’s what professionalism is about,” he said.
