I created most jokes Nigerian comedians tell – Alibaba claims, calls for credit

• Alibaba has chastised those who claim he has done nothing for the Nigerian comedy industry.
• Speaking on his impact, the veteran claimed 4 out of 5 jokes that Nigerian comedians tell are his.
• He added that many of them usually modify it.

Veteran comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has claimed that he created most of the jokes Nigerian comedians tell.

The ‘King of comedy’ said despite recycling his jokes, some comedians still feel he hasn’t done much for the comedy industry.

He spoke in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast co-hosted by actor Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, aka, Deity Cole and Husband Material.

Alibaba said:

“Sometimes some people will say I am not helping but 4/5 of the jokes you are telling are mine.

“There was one guy who called me the other day, very popular skit maker. He pushed one video out. And it’s a joke about… This one happened in Warri when someone wanted to cut somebody’s light and they brought dogs and cutlasses and told the person, ‘When you finish come down.’ I told that joke 1988. And then they turned it into skit.

“There are several skits circulating that are inspired by my jokes.”

He advised skit makers and comedians to always give credit to the originators of their content ideas.

In the same interview, Alibaba opened up on why his father disowned and kept malice with him for ten years at a stretch.

The comedian said it was because he told his father his dream of becoming a comedian and not a lawyer.

He said his father called an uncle of his to listen to the profession he wanted to opt for.

Alibaba revealed that during the ten years, he tried to reach out to his father but wasn’t given an audience and that inspired him to work twice as hard.