Top Nigerian actor reveals why he quit banking for comedy, talks on upcoming show
Justice Emonaerere Nuagbe fondly known as Ushbebe is one of Nigeria’s top comedian to reckon with in the entertainment industry with the delivery of second-to-none jokes. Ushbebe is also a standup comedian, event compere/MC, OAP, TV presenter and a Theatre Arts graduate from the Delta State University, Abraka. In an interview with Naij.com, the jester talks about his forth coming comedy show, revealed why he quit his banking job among others.
Comedian Ushbebe
How is the preparation towards your forth coming comedy show?
(Chuckles) Fifth, although in English is actually fourth coming but because it is the fifth edition, I want to tag it fifth-coming event. We are getting ready to give them problem, you know what Nigerians needs is a form of relaxation and we just want to improve on the comedy, music and entertainment in general. In a nutshell, we are good to go.
What are some of the things you want to do differently this year in your show?
When you say do differently, do I want to come in from the sky like Darey Alade; Muson centre is not high or come from underground that again is expensive because there is no sponsor. Sincerely, what I want to do differently this year is not to give them the same jokes I have said before because our own industry is not like the music artists where they record their songs, then perform to the audience but in comedy when a joke is said in the morning people ordinarily want a fresh joke in the afternoon. For me basically in my concert, I try as much as possible to bring in fresh materials every edition held in Lagos, so if I want to improve on them for the year, I go to different cities to do that. My own question to my audience too is that what difference are you bringing compared to the last time you attended the show because they will come with the same problem like no light, no fuel, break-ups and we must solve them right on the show.
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Your previous edition, you excited the audience with a stage play, any plan for that this year too?
Definitely, there will be a stage play different from the other ones I have showcased before and also change the entire concept for the whole show not just for the play alone but also for show properly. I want to be more creative this time around as a theatre art graduate that wow touch must glow. I am just coming to work.
Ushbebe
Is it as result of money made by musicians during shows/concert that made a lot of your colleagues including you delve into staging a concert?
No, I think we do more concert than the musicians because the only musician that practically holds a concert is YBNL boss Olamide, the other don’t do concert because it is very demanding no matter how small it is. For the musicians, they sing and people enjoy them but on the other hand but when it comes to comedy shows, it is different because Nigerians are yet to understand that they could come to a comedy show and just enjoy because in Nigeria we are used to mixture of everything, hence they want to see music, drama, dance and a whole lot because they will be like, I am paying five thousand naira ‘wetin dey wan really give me’. Other comedians are staging concerts too and I am proud to say that we are doing very well.
In your own opinion, do you think is good enough for every comedian to have their show?
Why not, in America every comedian has their own show and they still support one another. We are just about 12 or 15 that has a standard comedy show that they do every year. I have done shows outside Lagos while others have not but with us that have gained that courage to do shows outside Lagos, others are inspired by it and want to do theirs too. For me it is not a bad idea if every comedian have their own shows as longs as they have got what it takes to pull it.
Your concert is tagged ‘Yadadi’, any special meaning to that?
My show has always been tagged ‘Yadadi’ which basically is calling your attention to something. I must confess it has no special meaning, ‘Yadadi’ is just an exclamation to call your attention, it is like someone telling you ‘waka’, am not cursing you but see the way you did your face, you will be like is this one okay? It is like my name Ushbebe, which means (be quiet and observe what I have to say). It is a fun way to just insult somebody and be free.
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You said you left the banking industry to join comedy, why?
I didn’t come to join comedy, I studied Theatre Art professionally, so I am in my business, I only left my space am occupying in the banking sector for others to occupy. I decided to quit the job because I was not doing well before the sack me (laughs).
Is it that you had difficulty in the calculation or meeting up with target?
Not calculation, target is always the problem with banking not calculation. The major problem was meeting up to that billon that they give you, if you don’t have anybody that has million in your family how do you want to get to billion? It’s easy for people that can say uncle just borrow me 2 billion I will give you next week and he gives you, they will promote you and you collect your money back, I don’t have it so I knew I would not last before they sack me so I just sacked myself.
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