Bovi Ugboma: There’s Thin Line Between Telling Jokes, Insulting People

Ace comedian and actor, Bovi Ugboma, is known for his wisecracks and is one of the leading stars in the Nigerian entertainment industry. After an impressive tour of cities in the UK and USA, Bovi, shortly before his last show in Lagos recently, spoke about his craft, what makes him different, why he supports upcoming acts, and more. Ferdinand Ekechukwu brings the excerpts:

You just came back from tours abroad. What would you say is the difference between performing abroad and performing at home in terms of audience reaction, atmosphere and other factors?

I don’t think there’s much difference in terms of audience reaction and atmosphere. People like the comedy; they have a history with it. There are new converts coming on board, and they turn out en masse to have a good time. I give them a good time. Structurally, the difference is that abroad, I don’t need to lift a finger except to carry myself onto the stage because most of the venues there are plug-and-play, you know. But here, we really don’t have that. So, I’m not just a performer; I am an architect and an executive producer. It’s crazy because we don’t have a plug-and-play venue, to put it succinctly.

What’s ‘Bovi: Guilty as Charged’ all about?

It’s ‘Guilty as Charged’ because, like every show I do, there’s always a running title that goes with it. It’s like an album. In every album, there’s one song, usually the title track, that gives the album its name. So, most of the jokes are themed, and the majority of them are basically about pointing accusing fingers.

If you share a joke and the audience probably doesn’t react positively to it, do you recreate the joke or just move on?

I have been doing this for so many years. I have never taken my audience for granted. That’s what I can assure you. I always put my best foot forward because people are paying money for this, and I need to give them value for their money. That’s not to say everybody agrees with everything I say on stage. But the bottom line is that it is a joke in the end. It’s not to be taken seriously. It’s not to be used to form very strong opinions. I mean, most of the jokes are just for laughs.

Talk about the originality of your material. How is it different from the kind of jokes a fellow comedian shares?

There are different types of jokes. I personally enjoy listening to virtually every comedian, not just to laugh but also to learn new skills and learn things I shouldn’t do, and stuff like that. As for my material, I’m just being me, trying to evolve where I can over the years. That’s basically it.

Do you think ticket sales alone can really make and sustain a show like yours?

If we had 10,000-capacity arenas or 20,000-capacity arenas, ticket sales would do the magic. But we don’t have 10,000- or 20,000-capacity arenas. That’s why we are grateful to our sponsors, both private and corporate, who come on board. If not for these people who help propagate the gospel and provide financial backing, it wouldn’t come easy.

So, what are you doing to change that? You are a stakeholder?

When I get rich, when I get wealthy, I’m going to build a proper arena that meets modern-day international standards.

What is the secret behind your consistency?

I think the reason behind my consistency is that I love what I do. If I get tired, I will stop. I don’t do anything strictly for money. I do it primarily because I enjoy doing it, because it comes to me naturally, because I never get tired of doing it, and because it’s easy for me. I don’t like tough work.

Over the years you’ve been doing this, what makes a comedian successful?

Funny jokes and the ability to scale up the business, work with a team and make yourself a brand that will put food on your table and create your legacy.

How has your understanding of what makes people laugh changed over time? Are there particular issues you avoid in order not to be taken out of context?

Typically, I would just say no because I avoid no issue. So, now I would say there are issues I tread carefully with because people are involved, and maybe, at the time, the issue is still brewing.

The last time, you took one aback when you turned up for Funny Ouch. Do you offer such a platform at your own show?

I went there to be entertained because I like Funny Ouch and what he does. I’m not too big or too proud to turn up and sit in the audience. I asked to be there, and he’s not the only person whose show I have attended. I don’t like the fact that we tend to look at people who have been there before and consider what they are doing a privilege for the younger ones. These guys are going to be very huge tomorrow. So, the best you can do is just recognise their talent and respect it. When you hear things like, ‘Oh, this artist is so rude now,’ it’s because the hurdles they had to face to get to where they are were steep, and they were abused in the process. So, you make monsters out of these people. Then, when they get up, you expect them to be prim and proper and civilised. Hell no! They will only regurgitate what they were given when they were coming up. It’s the kind of thing I faced in certain quarters of my career as well. So, I told myself I’m not going to be part of that school of thought. I will show up and entertain, or watch the show and enjoy myself. When they invite me and say, ‘Please come and support me with your presence,’ I tell them that’s the wrong language, you know, because of what I know they mean by it. There’s no turn-by-turn in this business. A kid can hit it real big tomorrow. I don’t go to every show, but the ones I like to attend, I will. That’s how I keep my feet on the ground.

What does it take to move a comedy talent to a commercial level where people can actually pay for the brand, pay for the shows and book you for gigs, and where you can prioritise it?

Being in circulation, performing at comedy clubs in rotation and appearing in comedy shows. Comedy is an art form; it’s like football. It boils down to taking the microphone and talking. If people laugh, they will remember. By the time they’ve seen you two or three times, they will ask for you.

It’s very easy. Once you are killing it, people will be asking, ‘Is this guy on this show? Okay, I will be there.’ Once you are doing well, after a while, you can say, ‘Okay, I’m doing my show.’ There are so many small venues now, so if you want to start small with a show like that, why not? They will be there.

It boils down to what you say on the microphone. If people are laughing at what you say, that’s what matters. Comedy is actually very unique as well. Two people might tell similar jokes, but they will still be unique to them. Maybe it’s a topical issue; it would be unique to them. One thing about comedy is that it has to be relatable. Once people connect with you, they will be there.

In today’s world, a lot of people are very socially and politically aware and easily ractice. As a comedian, how would you say you hope to balance that?

There’s a thin line between making jokes and insulting people. I have always tried to maintain a balance, regardless of the season we are in. I have always tried. My own aim is just to make people laugh and make them see the funny side of things.

Would you advise upcoming comedians who are trying to develop their craft and ractice this art to stay clear of controversial conversations or just go at it regardless?

Why would I advise them to stay clear when I don’t stay clear? (Laughs.) I will advise comedians to be themselves and just keep it artistic, regardless. There are different types of comedy, different approaches to comedy and different templates to work with. As long as people say, ‘He made me laugh’ or ‘She made me laugh’, that’s the most important thing.

Has there been a time when the audience misinterpreted your jokes? How did you handle it?

It has happened before, and that’s when I realised that you really can’t know, get or have it all. Having everybody in agreement is to be a saint, and to be a saint is not to be on earth. I am not tired of being on earth, so they are welcome. Divergent opinions are welcome.

I have passed that age of trying to convince people beyond reasonable doubt because ever since I found out that what we believe will give us evidence, there’s no need trying to fight to make somebody understand what they have already made up their mind to misunderstand. So, that’s it for me.