Veteran comedian Ali Baba has shared the unusual story behind his journey into comedy.
Speaking in a recent interview with Channels TV, Ali Baba, who just turned 60, revealed that his passion for comedy began during his university days after a strip tease performance went wrong.
He recalled that during an event at his school in Ekpoma, a strip tease dancer ran off stage when some students tried to rush her while she undressed. The incident left the crowd angry and restless.
Ali Baba said the organisers needed someone to calm the situation, and his friend, Percy Okoje, asked him to help.
“In those days between 1986 and 1988, Congo music was trending, and they came with dancers, including a strip tease lady. The hall was full. When she was about to go totally nude, she ran off stage because the local guys couldn’t handle it and rushed her,” he said.
“The organisers were desperate to pacify the crowd so the show could continue. Percy Okoje came to me and said, ‘Ali please help us calm them down.’ That was when I started MCing and cracking jokes. I yabbed everyone just to make them laugh and calm down.”
Ali Baba described that moment as life-changing. “As soon as I got on stage, I felt at home. That day, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
