I am your presenter and host Alonge Lawrence.
On today's edition of One Mic Show: I have a celebrity guest in the studio
You are welcome to the studio Asiri
Thank you for having me
Everybody knows you as Asiri. What's your real name?
My name is Osundare Oluwadamilare Simeon.
Tell us who Asiri is
Asiri is a funny personality. I love to make sense. I love to use hilarity as a leverage.
For how long have you been into comedy?
I've been into it since 2010 professionally,though I started 2008.
Did your parents support you when you started?
I wasn't supported. My dad didn't like the fact that Baba Sala and others look. clownish. He insisted I study Microbiology. Thank God, we are here today. Eventually, I replaced Biology with Comedy. I now tell people I studied Microcomedy.
Who are your role models ?
I particularly love Bovi. His intelligence,depth and unequalled brilliance. He's my role model.
What about Ali Baba?
Yeah. Ali Baba is the 'father of comedy' in Nigeria . I've met him a number of times. He is a legendary icon. I was one of the finalists of the first edition of his competition (Ali Baba's spontaneity) where I was selected among the top 12 most spontaneous 4th generation comedians in January,this year.
Do you write your comedy yourself?
I do write jokes. I do script my jokes. However, I use the register of the occasion I'm performing. Comedy is a language. I speak the language of my audience. My genre of comedy is Inspirational Comedy.
Where do you get your materials?
God has been helping. However I read alot. I know little of everything. My jokes are a function of my surroundings. And at times I share my personal story. For instance, I stopped bedwetting late,I think SSS3 or so. I also get jokes from the Bible.
How will you feel if there's no positive response or feedback from your audience after cracking a joke?
We call it 'koboko ' in the terminology of comedy. It depends on maturity. I perform with an open mind. I don't go for any performance in a stereotype way, neither am I dogmatic. I play the scenarios in my head before going for any show. The frequency of your performance will not be the same. Even the economy is not stable. The last time I was coming from Oshodi, I brought 'Gala'. I saw locust bean inside. When I told the woman who sold it , she said the locust bean is it's own special flavour. She told me she also has the one with garden egg flavour. She blamed the economy downtime for it. The other time, a driver said ' se e tie ri asiko reception yii' (this recession time). Things are difficult now. I went for a wedding recently. The bride's mother came to the table before mine and complained about a guest who only ate meats on the plate of rice he was served. The woman asked the usher to take the rice and serve it to another guest after adding meat. Even God doesn't support wastage. A friend of mine placed an advert . On the advert, he said he's a comedian who will like to anchor any morning devotion that is boring. May God help us.
What challenges have you faced as a comedian?
They include struggle for relevance and for one's personal style.Another challenge has to do with finances. I'm stubborn so I don't see these challenges. Another is plagiarism. God has been helping me. It's kind of hard for someone to steal my materials.
Do you earn a living from comedy?
Yes, I do. Comedy for me is on a premium level. It's giving me leverage in everything I'm doing.
Finally, must comedians perform in Pidgin? I mean Broken English?
Everyone has his style. Personally am more convenient speaking pure English than pidgin.
It's been fun speaking with Asiri today, till next time when we'll come your way again, I'm Lawrence Alonge.
(c)
SMILE DOCUMENTARY
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