I Love Beautiful Girls

 Fagade Olufemi Ademola, aka Omo Baba, “the finest” comedian in Nigeria, spoke with P.M. Entertainment about himself, comedy business, his ideal woman and other issues

Who is Omo Baba?

Omo Baba is the only comedian with fine names in Nigeria, finest, sexiest, most handsome, people call me wowo but I call myself fine boy.

Are you really wowo (meaning ugly)?

Well it is a strategy to break into the market because while I was coming into the comedy business I discovered that about 95% of Nigerian comedians always praise their looks, then I thought of a marketing strategy that is how I will get people to recognise me. Then I started picking on myself and cracking jokes about myself and it worked for me.

How did you come into the stand up comedy business?

I started with music. In the past I used to have a musical band singing gospel music in Afro beat style. Way back I had been part of social group choir and on getting into the university I thought of the expenses of travelling with a large band so I decided to down size and before any performance I try to crack jokes.

Who inspired you?

It is a thing I always love to do, I mean stand up comedy but the first person I saw and I really like is the late Danjuma Mohammed and later I got more encouragement from Ali Baba and many others.

How has it been?

Its been nice, by putting food on my table, giving me the opportunity to meet people that matter. I have also been able to influence those around me especially the younger ones positively.

How lucrative is stand up comedy?

It is lucrative if you know what you are doing, having business plan not like “when the boy falls down, he comes stand up, etc”, because if you can compere and do stand up, do more of corporate event, you make more money.

As a stand up comedian, was there any time you had a stage fright?

I never had a stage fright because I started lead roles in church and school, so doing my own thing now makes it easy. Though it has its own ups and downs, if you call yourself a professional, you should be able to weather the storm.

In marketing there is what we call Unique Selling Point (USP). What is your own USP in the stand up comedy business?

My USP is my face or looks, the voice, because what I do is not what others do. I actually look at the business side of it because it is not by gathering people in a hall and charge between N5,000 to N10,000 and do other events. I am more involved with the corporate world, I work on stress, I do workshops, teaching people how to manage stress. The concept of the workshop is better than gathering people in the hall and cracking jokes or going on TV.

Do you hope to go on TV one day?

Not now, but I have a radio show coming up soon, tagged “Evening Comedy rush with Omobaba,” then Best of Omobaba on DVD, while the Omobaba TV show is not the regular TV show that we do.

How far have you gone about the album you are working on?

Well, the album is ready, though I have released singles like the one I featured Dagrin and Terry G and I have other singles which feature people like Eldee, Sound Sultan, Ruggedman and others.

Are you releasing the one featuring Dagrin with the album?

It will be in my album because it is the promo copy already.

How was it working with the late Dagrin in the studio?

Nice, because he was a nice person, humble and we did one or two free style and I asked him to let us record a song which he obliged.

Between music and comedy, which one is the most important to you?

It is like asking between my head and my leg which one do I prefer of course. The two are very important to me.

Does comedy have copyright?

That is what we are working on because, it is sad when you are just relaxing with your friend and you watch another stand up comedian doing your stuff. It is criminal. Well we are still trying to put that together. When we get to the bridge we will cross it, because when you start as a new act you can do other people’s jokes but if you continue that way you won’t last. With the help of people like Ali Baba, we are forming an association that will regulate stand up comedy in Nigeria.

In the next five years how do you see Omobaba?

By then otisumi (meaning I am tired). So I need to get married before then.

Is that when you will get married?

No, I mean before then.

Is it so soon?

It can be soon, because I am more of a reserved person and a shy person.

How do you relate with the opposite sex as a star comedian?

It is a daily thing, because I don’t drink, or smoke, I don’t womanise, only ‘man nise’ me. I can always balance it. They are friendly, and when you don’t want problem you don’t get too close.

You were once a footballer and you played basketball as well. Now that football is more lucrative, do you regret not playing football?

I regret not playing football because by now coupled with the way football is going, you know what I mean. I was knocked out of football because of a knee injury I sustained years back. For you to know, I play football, basketball, music and stand up comedy. I do interior sculptures, play keyboard, base guitar. I learnt all these by myself. It is just an interest I learnt by myself.

What is the future of Stand Up comedy in Nigeria?

With the way things are going in Nigeria, it has grown tremendously. People now see it as a business rather than comedy, the business part of it is cool. It is good if one can tap into it.

A lot of people are coming into the business, don’t you foresee a kind of crowded profession in the future?

The sky is big to contain everybody. Only the apartment in heaven is what you have to choose, some live in mansion, others Boys Quarters among other things, but for anything you need education. Talent can take you to a level in life but education will push it to another level.

Who is your ideal woman?

She must be godfearing, most important, I like beautiful girls, well cultured and very intelligent, I like a woman who can stand when the man is not there.

How rich is Omobaba?

I am not too rich but I am comfortable.