Why I’m Bowing Out – Ali Baba

He’s inspired a generation of entertainers. He’s paved the way for scores of stand-up comedians; giving them baskets of fish until they mastered how to fish themselves. And he’s earned pride and glory for a genre hitherto considered lowly.

Now, Alleluya Atunyota Akporobome, the entertainer-entrepreneur popularly called Ali Baba has told NET he’s warming up to leave the stage and ‘‘face other things’’.

Although many misconstrue his recent set of shows as a finale, the comedian insists that the final curtain call will be in 2010 – when he would have clocked 20 years as a professional stand-up comedian.

Now 44, (his birthday was on Wednesday June 24) he was in his early twenties when he got stuck with the art. At 24, he was already neck-deep into the trade, and certain he was on the right course. And, as he told NET, he could never have imagined he’ll come this far. ‘‘Of course I knew I was going to be comfortable, but I didn’t know it was going to be like this. But you know, as you go along the line, every step will show you where you’re going to. If you didn’t have a home in 1990, and four, five years later, you see that you can afford a home anywhere you want, then those are signs that things are getting better’’.

And, things have gotten so better that he’s considering retiring at 45. ‘‘It has come to a point where it is not as challenging again’’. ‘‘Of course I will still do comedy, I will still do compering. And my two shows (Ali Baba Live and me, Three Kings) will still hold. But there’ll no longer be anything like ‘Ali come and give us 10 minutes’’’

‘‘I’m moving up to other challenges’’, he confessed.

There are strong indications he’s returning to TV and considering comedy radio, amongst many other things. But Ali will rather not tell. ‘‘We’re in a country where people steal ideas. And instead of even doing it well, they’ll go and mess it up’’ he complained.

QUICK FACTS

• Attended St. Michael’s Primary School Ojo and Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos.
• Studied Religious Studies/Philosophy at Bendel State University (Now Ambrose Alli Uni.
• After graduating, he worked as a personal assistant to Dapo Adelegan (of Lekki Sunsplash)
• He came into national prominence through the Charly Boy show