Legendary Nigerian comedian Alibaba has raised concerns over the growing lack of professionalism among some comedians in the industry.
Speaking on the issue, Alibaba recounted a disturbing incident during a corporate event where a comedian made an inappropriate joke targeting the plus-size wife of a company chairman. The insensitive remark, he noted, was not only embarrassing but completely out of line for such a setting.
When he approached the comedian to express his disapproval, Alibaba was surprised to be brushed off. The younger comic allegedly dismissed his feedback, accusing the veteran of being envious of his rising success.
Highlighting the importance of intelligent and respectful humor, Alibaba stressed the need for comedians to recognize appropriate boundaries, especially during formal events. Despite the severity of the situation, he chose not to name the individuals involved, stating that his intention was to correct, not to destroy careers.
He said: “There are about three Nigerian comedians who I can’t stand. They have no decorum. They insult sensibilities. You try to correct them, they won’t listen to you. You send them to a cooperate event and they do dirty jokes. And when you received report of their unruly behavior and you confront them, they would downplay it.
“Somebody called me one time to complain about one of them that he made a joke about his plus-size wife. He said, ‘If a race happens now and everyone has to carry their wives and run, you can’t carry this woman and run.’ I was like, that’s below the belt. When I confronted him, he downplayed it. He even told somebody that I was only confronting him because he was shining.”