Nigerian comedy has grown beyond stage — Senator

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Stand-up comedian and actor, Senator, has said the Nigerian comedy industry has opened up several opportunities for practitioners, noting that the sector’s growth has encouraged entertainers to explore different areas of creativity.

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In an interview with Sunday Scoop, Senator said the industry had evolved beyond traditional stand-up comedy, with the emergence of skits, sitcoms, event hosting and other creative platforms providing more opportunities for entertainers.

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He said, Before now, it was just stand-up comedy. We had mentors whom we worked under and, through their platforms, we were able to announce our presence in terms of talent.

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“After a while, we discovered that other things started coming up. Things like skits, which have taken over the social media space, as well as series and sitcoms. As time went on, we also advanced in hosting events.

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“Before, it used to be a staff member of the organisation who would handle events, but as time went on, they discovered they needed an MC or compere. Later, it became an MC with a sense of humour.”

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Senator explained that the changing demands of the entertainment industry have encouraged many comedians to diversify into different areas while still maintaining their passion for comedy.

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“The work calls for different challenges, and as time went on, people diversified. I was also one of those who diversified. That is not to say we didn’t have where our love was hanging,” he added.

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The comedian described the entertainment sector as one filled with possibilities, especially for emerging talents seeking opportunities to build sustainable careers.

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“The industry generally is one that has sprouted several opportunities. There is so much hope in what is happening in this industry. The sector has really encouraged a lot of newbies,” he said.

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However, Senator noted that despite the progress recorded in the comedy industry, its growth had not been as rapid as many expected.

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“The industry has been growing, maybe not at the pace we are looking at,” he said.

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