Everybody says, “Laughter is the best medicine”, and famous comedian Woli Arole takes this literally.
He spoke matter of factly at the fifth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference alongside veteran comedian Ali Baba and producer Opa Williams reiterating that laughter is medicinal.
He said, “Comedy is also medicinal. We are solution providers. We are not jesters – which is very important. I see the way they treat comedians at times, and they think we are just fools. These are notions that need to be corrected. I meet someone on the road, and they say, ‘crack a joke for me’, and it’s so annoying. Can you meet a banker and say begin to count money for me?”
“The scientists will say that there’s more tissue use when you smile than when you frown. Comedians are your doctors. We make you live longer. We add value to your life. Many people should have died of depression, but they feel better when they go through their phones and see some humour. Comedy instincts productivity.”
Several studies support his claim, including two from the United States National Library of Medicine published in 2009 and 2016. The 2016 paper titled ‘The Laughter Prescription’ concludes that, “Currently, research indicates that the physical act of laughing, even without humour, is linked to chemical changes in the body that potentially reduce stress and increase pain tolerance”.
We advise that you take Woli Arole’s strong opinions about the benefits of laughter and laugh a little louder until the next edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference holds soon.
This year on Sunday, April 25, 2021, #NECLive8 is returning as a hybrid media event combining a studio set-up of select speakers with live global broadcast across Cable TV, radio and online platforms. Some of Nigeria’s most brilliant professionals and accomplished entertainment industry stakeholders will explore the theme: “Building The Future”.
To learn more about the conference, visit nec.ng or contact info@nec.ng. Register here to attend.
