Ace comedian, Atunyota Alleluya
Akporobomerere, who because of his very
mouthful name adopted the simple stage name
Ali Baba celebrated his 50th birthday against the
conventional way, before his date of birth.
The father of modern day comedy celebrated his 50th birthday
yesterday, June 21, as against his real date of birth.
Ali Baba, who was born on June 24, 1965, was expected to
celebrate his attaining the golden age on Wednesday, June 24, or
postpone the celebration to a date after the actual date probably to
the weekend following the D-day as it is the norm in Nigeria.
The joker decided to make jokes out of his birthday by celebrating it
days ahead with a comedy show tagged Ali Baba
Spontaneity 2.
The event was well-attended as comedians from all across the
country throng the venue, Muson Centre, Lagos, to honour the man
popularly referred to as the God Father of Comedy in Nigeria
Ali Baba discovered his comic talent when he was in his third
year in the university studying Religious Studies and Philosophy
at the then Bendel State University, Bendel now Ambrose Ali
University, Ekpoma, Edo State. Ali later abandoned his going to
study Law for comic business.
In the early 90s, Ali Baba, solely started what is known now in
the country as the Nigeria Comedy Industry. He had since
mentored, tutored, trained many comedians in the country.
It was said that Ali Baba brought a level of professionalism into
comedy business in Nigeria.