My father never wanted me to be a comedian – Igodu

Adejewe Ovuakpraye popularly known as Igodu (pronounced I -go -do) is one of the fastest growing comedians in the country. Even as he has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry, the young lad has said his family, especially his father, never wanted him to be a comedian.

In a telephone chat with Bliss recently, the young comedian said his father was a strict disciplinarian who had wanted him to study Medicine.

“My father was never in support of my profession. He was so much against it. It was of recent that he accepted my profession. When he found out I was into comedy, he couldn’t believe it. He felt that it meant I came from a wayward family. It was just of recent when he heard that comedy has been taking me so many places outside the country that he accepted it. When I was in school, I never used to ask him for money. He even had to call me one day and asked if I was into robbery. With time, he got to understand that comedy was paying my bills. The passion is so much I can’t even do any other thing.”

Even with his degree in Quantity Surveying from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Igodu said his course of study was just for the certificate alone.

“One day the certificate may be needed. But for now, I don’t see myself using the certificate. The certificate is packed somewhere.”

Relieving how he got into comedy, Igodu said it’s innate and he’s done it all his life.

“I just found myself doing comedy.  I was doing funny stuff with my body. I would use my stomach as a drum and I would be beating it as drum. Nobody around could do stuff like that. I would be on my own and people would gather round and beg me to perform for them. People would marvel and they would give me money. I would just construct something and turn it to a trumpet. I would be the only one that could blow it.”

With his platform, ‘Corpers Must Laugh’, which he founded as a youth corp member, Igodu said he has been able to reach out to a lot of people.

“Today, people now call me to say they would want to perform on my show. I don’t have to go around and beg for platform. Now I have to create my platform. When you stand out, the sky will just be a starting point. I don’t know how to crack people’s jokes.  I don’t even compose jokes. Once I enter the event, it flows. I crack my jokes from the surroundings.”