veteran Nigerian comedian Alibaba shared the heart-wrenching story of how his father refused to speak to him for a decade after he opted for a career in comedy instead of pursuing law. The popular entertainer opened up about this painful period in his life during the Christmas edition of The Honest Bunch Podcast.
Alibaba recounted the moment he summoned the courage to inform his father about his decision to become a comedian, a choice that would set the course for his future success. However, his father’s response was far from supportive – it led to him running away from home.
Desperate to prove his father wrong, Alibaba became determined to succeed in the field of comedy. He shared, “My dad is a bookworm. He got his PhD at 86. I told him, I said, ‘Daddy, I came from school to tell you something.’ He said, ‘Okay, have you been rusticated?’ I said, ‘No. I’ve decided that I don’t want to read law. I want to do comedy.’
“He asked, ‘Comedy like what?’ I said, ‘Like cracking jokes.’ He laughed and asked my younger brother to call my uncle who lived close by. When my uncle came, he asked what the matter was and I said I don’t want to read law again, that I want to do comedy. He said that means I’ve found another father, stressing that I can’t be part of the family and won’t read law. He said all the money my dad spent on me was wasted. He told my dad to handle the situation and left.
“I knew I couldn’t sleep in that house because my dad would beat me. So as my uncle was going out, I followed him to lock the burglary and I didn’t go back in. And my dad and I didn’t talk from 1988 – 1998. Ten years. I tried to reach out to him. I went one time to talk to him, but he didn’t want to see me.
“This was the thing. So people ask, ‘Where did you get the inspiration to become a great comedian?’ I was committed. I was like I want to prove him [my Dad] wrong.”
Alibaba’s journey to success is a testament to his determination and desire to prove his worth to his father. Despite the decade-long silence from his dad, Alibaba persevered and rose to become one of Nigeria’s most respected and influential comedians.
This story serves as a reminder that success often requires following one’s dreams, even in the face of opposition from loved ones. Alibaba’s resilience and dedication to his passion for comedy not only brought him personal fulfillment but also proved his father wrong.
As the Nigerian entertainment industry continues to thrive, Alibaba’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring comedians and artists facing similar challenges. His journey testifies to the fact that with hard work, perseverance, and a little defiance, dreams can become a reality.
