Alibaba Critiques Some Nigerian Comedians for Unprofessional Conduct and Inappropriate Jokes at Corporate Gigs
Renowned comedian Alibaba has voiced his disappointment over the professionalism—or lack thereof—among certain Nigerian comedians. Known as the ‘King of Comedy,’ he highlighted that a handful of comedians, including three notable figures he chose not to name, often cross the line with their humor, offending audiences in the process.
During a recent chat on the Outside The Box podcast, Alibaba shared an incident where he assigned a comedian to host a corporate event. Unfortunately, the comedian reportedly made an insensitive joke about the chairman’s wife, who is plus-sized, which did not sit well with the audience. When Alibaba attempted to address the issue with the comedian, the response was less than cooperative, with the comedian dismissing the concern and accusing Alibaba of jealousy.
Alibaba remarked, “There are about three Nigerian comedians whose style I find hard to tolerate. They lack proper decorum and tend to insult people’s sensitivities. When you try to guide them, they simply won’t listen. You send them to corporate events, and they resort to inappropriate jokes. When complaints come in and you confront them, they often brush it off.”
He recounted a specific complaint where the comedian joked, ‘If there was a race where everyone had to carry their wives, you wouldn’t be able to carry this plus-size woman and run.’ Alibaba considered this remark to be in poor taste and below acceptable standards. Despite addressing the issue, the comedian downplayed the incident and even suggested Alibaba’s concerns were motivated by envy.
Alibaba emphasized the importance of comedians understanding where to draw the line. While he refrained from naming those involved to avoid harming their careers, he urged them to channel their talents into crafting smarter, more thoughtful humor.
In essence, Alibaba’s message is clear: comedy should entertain without offending, especially in professional settings where respect and sensitivity are key.