Alibaba Shares How His Comedy Career Began Unexpectedly

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Veteran Nigerian comedian Alibaba has shared the unusual and unexpected experience that launched his journey into stand-up comedy.

During a recent interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise, Alibaba reflected on how his career in entertainment began in the late 1980s while he was studying at Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma. 

According to him, it all started during a Congo music event on campus that unexpectedly spiraled into chaos.

He recalled that during the show, one of the striptease dancers took to the stage but fled after the enthusiastic crowd surged forward as she was about to undress.

“Now, one of those striptease ladies came to our school in Ekpoma, and when she was, in fact, this hall was full, and when it was time for her to then undress totally, she ran off the stage because, you know, some local people like us had not seen anybody like that in nude form. And so some of them ran on stage, and so the girl was afraid and ran off,” he explained.

In a bid to restore order, he was approached to address the crowd and calm the tense atmosphere. That unexpected call to the mic became a defining moment for him.

“And they said they needed somebody to come just pacify the people and get them to calm down so the show can continue. And somebody came to me, so Pesio Koje came and said, ‘Ali, can you help us just pacify the audience and let them get back?’ And so that was how I started emceeing and cracking jokes. So to pacify the people, I had to start doing jokes, yapping everyone,” he said.

Alibaba shared that the response from the audience was overwhelming and affirming.

“But you see, that day was the turning point. I needed to say that that was the turning point because as soon as I got on stage, I was home. I felt at home. I knew this was what I wanted to do. I started entertaining,” he added.

The comedy legend also reflected on the cultural wave of the time, noting how Congo music and its dancers had become a prominent part of Nigerian entertainment between 1986 and 1987.

“Some lady from, and bear in mind that between 1986 and 1987, there was a new lease of life for Congo music in Nigeria. People embraced Congo music, and so they brought all their dancers as well. And so those dancers were all coming to, they were infiltrating, in fact, they even went into the churches,” he said.

What began as a spontaneous effort to restore calm eventually evolved into a groundbreaking career that would shape modern stand-up comedy in Nigeria.

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