Ali Baba tells his little story

That first pix was just about when I was coming out of the dark. I had been in the oven from 1989 till 1992... I was working hard to make people see what was inside me. I knew what I had in me. So these days I look at this picture and remember how many events I had done for free.
Just so people will see that stand up comedy was not a side plate but a full meal. Many thought I was on a wild golden goose chase. I would wake up, have a bath, map out the day, visit a free readers newspaper stand. While some where looking for sports stories and political news...

I was looking for adverts promoting corporate seminars, conferences, product launches and the likes. And my pitch was simple. "Sir let me do 5 minutes before you go on lunch break" the answer is usually. "Let's see how it goes." Trust me, with all those summits, workshop, lectures, conferences, etc... I learnt all the intelligent stuff on marketing, banking and finance, business and public administration, insurance, religion and faith, society and integration.

It was a strategic move because some of the participants at these brainstorming sessions were from different organizations. Many of them were later to become General managers, Executive Directors, Managing Directors and Chairmen..That first pix was just about when I was coming out of the dark.

I had been in the oven from 1989 till 1992... I was working hard to make people see what was inside me. I knew what I had in me. So these days I look at this picture and remember how many events I had done for free. Just so people will see that stand up comedy was not a side plate but a full meal. Many thought I was on a wild golden goose chase. I would wake up, have a bath, map out the day, visit a free readers newspaper stand.

While some where looking for sports stories and political news... I was looking for adverts promoting corporate seminars, conferences, product launches and the likes. And my pitch was simple. "Sir let me do 5 minutes before you go on lunch break" the answer is usually. "Let's see how it goes." Trust me, with all those summits, workshop, lectures, conferences, etc...

I learnt all the intelligent stuff on marketing, banking and finance, business and public administration, insurance, religion and faith, society and integration. It was a strategic move because some of the participants at these brainstorming sessions were from different organizations. Many of them were later to become General managers, Executive Directors, Managing Directors and Chairmen... In short, they were all later to become opinion movers and decision makers in their various fields. Another interesting thing was that the serving of jokes they got were all tailor made for any of those lectures. That way they could relate to them. That way the humour was quickly mopped up. I sometimes hear jokes that I created in those days being retailed and retold by people who did not know the circumstances that bred them. I just sit back and soak it all in. Because, it was all for the good of all. So next time you hear a good Nigerian joke, that sounds like it's beautifully tailored, it could be mine. Or not mine. But it was not easy. The creators worked to create it. Give them credit. That's all.

In short, they were all later to become opinion movers and decision makers in their various fields. Another interesting thing was that the serving of jokes they got were all tailor made for any of those lectures.

That way they could relate to them. That way the humour was quickly mopped up. I sometimes hear jokes that I created in those days being retailed and retold by people who did not know the circumstances that bred them.

I just sit back and soak it all in. Because, it was all for the good of all. So next time you hear a good Nigerian joke, that sounds like it's beautifully tailored, it could be mine. Or not mine. But it was not easy.

 The creators worked to create it. Give them credit. That's all