Ali Baba enlisted on the millionaires chart in the 90s
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Veteran comedian Ali BabaAce comedian, Ali Baba, has said he enlisted on the millionaires chart as a stand-up comedian in the late 90s when not too many prospects have found the comic business juicy.Ali Baba realized the early benefit of venturing into comedy in a city like Lagos, a time it was paying off and when little is known about the business.Ali Baba criticized the list of award conferred on him by The Verdant Zeal at its Quantum Awards ceremony held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island Lagos on March 22.“When I got my first endorsement and I was paid about N82,000, someone who saw me with the cheque asked what I do for a living and when I said I am a comedian he was baffled.“The person did not even have an idea that I had got an endorsement from Guinness Nigeria Plc that was worth about N1.2 million. We don’t need to shout over this.“The pay from show business is pronounced because some of the younger ones now flaunt their wealth unduly,’’ he said.Ali Baba made it clear that he has transferred to a different platform from what used to be his regular beat.“I still crack jokes but people won’t see me on the platform they are used to.“I will be 30 years on stage next year, so I have moved on from the platform people used to see me. I have to leave the platform for upcoming actors.“It is like a bank structure where there is a cashier attending to costumers, after 20 years you don’t expect to see that cashier still counting money behind the counter.“When I started, it was only Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), now we have many television stations and radio stations so the platform is bigger and wider,’’ the veteran comedian said.Ali Baba said he was more into inspiring youngster entertainers to take up the business of showbiz.“The thing I do is that I teach by example, a lot of them have watched me perform; professionalism is key and talent is important.“It is important that you develop your talent, when talent becomes a service that is when people will require it. Nobody will buy a talent if it is not for service.“I teach other comedians to be humble, focused and think ahead. I expect that others should beat my strides.“My strides are like foundation for a lot of comedians to grow with but with recent technology, the platform is now wider and accommodating,’’ Ali Baba said.Discover more from NewsBreakers
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