I will retire from standup comedy in five years, says Basketmouth
Basketmouth, one of Africa's best comedian said he functions better when he works behind the scenes
Nigerian comedian and actor, Bright Okpocha, also known as Basketmouth, has revealed that he will be retiring from standup comedy in the next five years.
Speaking on the Accra-Lagos-Joburg show on Asaase 99.5, Accra with Solomon Ter, the comedian said, “Even after the five-year plan, I’m still going to be driving the art, and I intend to still produce shows.”
He, however, explained his intention to push the comedy industry as far as he can: “So me dropping the mic doesn’t mean I’m stepping out of the game, but I’m dropping the mic to do other things, but most importantly, I’m trying to push art as far as I can.”
“So, without a doubt, I will be producing cutting-edge concerts, western world gigs. I function better when I’m behind the scenes.”
“I have always wanted to have my own industry to have my own space to be able to control my investment, which is why I went into music, movies, TV series, and advertisements,” Basketmouth said.
He added: “I have done all these things, and these are different arms of entertainment that make an industry function.”
“I want to get into full production like TV and movies, and I will be distracted if stand-up comedy is still functioning.”
“I have had a great run for 25 years, and I will be adding five more years, making 30 years. So what I’m doing is trying to create a new memory.”
“I’m trying to create a legacy,” he said, “and I have five more years to do that. So at the end of my five years, you will start seeing all the things I have been cooking because in five years, I will be 50.”
Dying Comedy Industry
Basketmouth added that Africa’s comedy industry is slowly dying.
“The industry is slowly dying,” he said.
“If you go to America right now, Dallas has 5 to 10 comedy clubs, and what that does is that when a comedian wants to go on tour, he has a place he can go and try his material, and he spends like 6 months in preparation.”
“In West Africa, we don’t have that; we don’t have comedy clubs, so comedians will go and try their sets before they take them on stage,” he said.
“What we are doing out here (in Africa) is too risky; for example, Dave Chappelle tries his material with real audiences who are unbiased, not his friends.”
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