5 Nigerian comedians who became actors

The entertainment industry has seen many reputable comedians make their way into the vibrant Nollywood scene. This week, we take a look at five comedians who became actors.

Basketmouth

Arguably one the biggest names in comedy in Nigeria, Bright Okpocha, also known as Basketmouth has been making people laugh since the 1990s, organizing numerous comedy shows over the years both at home and abroad. Of recent, he has starred in the Nollywood blockbuster hit, ‘The Wedding Party,’ and ‘Headgone.’

AY Makun

Ayodeji Makun, or AY as he’s popularly known, is the man behind the critically acclaimed comedy show, AY Live. He rose to prominence as Alibaba’s personal assistant. The comedian made his movie debut in the 2014 movie, ‘30 Days in Atlanta.’

Bovi

Starting out his career in 2007, Bovi officially became known as a comedian after his self-titled show became very popular across Nigeria. His first movie, ‘It’s Her Day,’ premiered in 2016, for which he nabbed the AMVC awards as the best Actor in Comedy.

Akpororo

Jephthah Bowoto, or Akopororo, began by contesting on AY’s Open Mic Challenge in Lagos, although he ended up winning in his second try. He later on became well known after his 2013 performance at Basketmouth’s ‘Laff and Jam’ show. The following year, he made his acting debut starring in productions ‘Headgone’ and ‘the Antique.’

Helen Paul

Her own transition into movies came about in her roles in the 2011 move, ‘The Return of Jenifa,’ followed by ‘Bad Agents’ in 2016. Helen became known for her comic character, Tatafo on the radio programme, ‘WetinDey’ on Lagos’s Radio Continental.