Popular Nigerian Comedians

Nigerian Comedians have in the last few years taken the center stage in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Quite a good number of them have made an impression that will forever remain with us – Nigerians.

Comedy in Nigeria, in my opinion, has impacted our lives more than any other section of the entertainment industry.

For you, it could be music. For me, however, it is comedy.

In the last 17 years, we have all watched with mouth wild agape as it transitioned from mere child play to a full-blown industry.

Over the past years, I have witnessed the evolution of the comedy industry, I grew up fancying comedy shows like “Night of a thousand laugh by Opa William, Crack your ribs by Julius Agu, Ay live, Lord of the ribs by Basket Mouth, Bovi’s Man on Fire and A whole lots of other.

In recent times we have seen Ko baba on duty, Akpororo Vs Akpororo and a whole bunch of other.

Comedy in Nigeria has metamorphosed into a giant caterpillar and the comedians are not left out of this exponential growth.

They have enjoyed massive patronage, huge followership, popularity, financial independence and the likes of it.

I am going to make a list some of the popular Nigerian comedians in no exact
order; the veterans, the popular Nigerian comedians, the wild, the crazy and even the ones with vulgar jokes.

Nigerian Comedians

Ali Baba

Ali Baba  Nigerian Comedians

Ali Baba is considered the father of comedy in Nigeria, Some like to call him the “ancestor of Nigerian comedy”.

I suppose he would have a better story to tell about the emancipation of stand-up comedy in Nigeria.

He started at a time when everyone imagined comedy to be a wayward endeavor,
he would prefer the tag ‘master of ceremony’ to ‘comedian’.

But with courage, creativity and a little bit of luck, he was able to alter Nigerian’s perception of comedy and subsequently championed the evolution of the Nigerian comedy industry.

Basket Mouth

Basket mouth

Basket mouth is one of the biggest names in the whole of Nigerian entertainment.

The recently crowned lord of the ribs is considered Nigeria’s biggest comedy export. He hosts several sold-out shows all over the world. He is married with kids.

Ay Makun

Ay Makun

Ay (as popularly called) is a comedian cum movie star in Nigeria, he has contributed immensely to the growth of the comedy industry.

He owns several brands like Ay live, Ay tv, etc. He is currently one of the most popular and wealthiest Nigerian comedian.

There is so much to be said about Ay Makun, that is a story for another day.

Julius Agu

julius degenius agu

I have followed Julius from his days at the University of Port Harcourt. His remix of the popular Makosa song used to be my favorite.

What is the name of the other song about Sonita, we would play the Music/comedy album all night and all morning in our hostel

Julius Agu is a household name in Nigeria, He is a creative comedian cum husband of one wife.

He wants to be remembered as a good family man and husband, as someone who created platforms for others to succeed, even though no one gave him that opportunity when he started.

Ko Baba

Ko baba
He is the guy with the clean and classy joke. He is probably the biggest comedian in southern Nigeria. He is the originator of the popular #portharcourtsabithetin and a very passionate and funny comedian.

Akpororo

Akpororo comedian

This controversial comedian has played a major role in the growth of the industry, He host shows like the Apkoror vs Akpororo, Street Jams, etc.

At first, he was all calm and collected, but he made no money and was only a choir member. Then he got crazy and time turned. lol 😀

The last time I checked, he is still crazy and rich!

Other comedians include. (In no exact order)

I Go Dye

Bovi

Dan de Humorous

Gordons

Mark Angel

Acapela

Okey Bakassi

Buchi

Acapella

Gandoki

Other Nigerian Comedians

There are thousands of comedians in Nigeria, I may not be able to give an elaborate history of their involvement in Nigerian comedy but they have played major roles in pushing the industry to where it stands today.

The likes of GSN Comedian, Okon, Arinze Baba, Akpan Okon, Adviser, Observer, Buchi, Aboki for Christ and Elenu.

There are thousands of comedian in Nigeria

This post is not about the richest comedian in Nigeria, it is about value, relevance, and consistency.

These guys have played a major role in the growth of stand-up comedy in Nigeria and deserve to be so recognized.

Who is the richest comedian in Nigeria 2020?

If your name is not above please use the comment form, I will update this post regularly. Thank you.

16 Comments

Uto
Reply

Yeah, bro. Comedy business in Nigerian is now very lucrative. I love Nigerian comedians so very much. I am Ghanian though.

February 17, 2018
Arinze
Reply

There are thousands of comedians in Nigeria, I think you have omitted a great number of them.

February 17, 2018
Ukachi
Reply

There other popular comedians in Nigeria, You omitted buchi, Gbenga adeyinka, Emmanuela, mark angel, abi dem no follow for comedy business? Those guys have made indelible mark in the comedy industry. Thanks for the post anyway.

June 9, 2018
Obiora
Reply

Nigerian comedians are funny, I follow lots of them on instagram. Akpororo is always on fire! I go dye, is ever funny. He started comedy a very long time, longer than most of the popular ones you see today but he is still very relevant.
Comedy is now a well paying business in Nigeria.

June 10, 2018
J Man
Reply

In my opinion I will consider AY the number one comedian in Nigeria! Dude is creative. I think he should be among the wealthiest comedian, if not the wealthiest. His movies gross in millions of naira monthly.

June 10, 2018
Ebiere
Reply

What happened to Ali Baba, I haven’t heard a Good joke from him and most people keep saying he is number one?

June 10, 2018
Jakpako
Reply

Pls sir, I am a great upcoming comedian and would really love if you could help promote my brand, God bless You. My name is MC Jakpako.

June 10, 2018
Crieg
Reply

Why don’t you have their number incase I want to contact them for business.

June 10, 2018
dave25d
Reply

Sorry, follow them on Instagram, They will always reply to your message if it is business related.

June 10, 2018
Anini
Reply

Haba! I am also a comedian and based in warri, we have this small clique that is working together. Soon Nigerians will know us. You need to come to warri, there are upcoming comedians that are even funnier than some of the popular comedians. Thanks for your post anyway.

June 10, 2018
Igbo Boy
Reply

For all these comedians you mentioned above, who do you think is the funniest?

June 10, 2018
dave25d
Reply

You are right!

June 10, 2018
Mouth
Reply

When you talk about popular comedians you must think of creative comedians. Being funny and being creative is a whole different thing. You must also know how to package yourself. Most of the big stars are just well packaged, there is nothing else. So you can be funny in your own backyard, if you are not creative and well packaged, no body will know you. #word

June 10, 2018
Comedian
Reply

Where is Gandoki?

June 10, 2018
Moroh
Reply

Klint the drunk used to be on fire!

June 10, 2018
David
Reply

This post was written about 2 years ago, after such a long time, we still have same comedians in the spotlight. While there are a couple of upcoming comedians in Nigeria like Buchi and destalker, I think Nigerian comedy industry can do a whole lot more by fishing out the stars and grooming them

November 1, 2019

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