A-list Nigerian comedians, including Alibaba, Julius Agwu, Basket Mouth, Seyi Law, Josh 2 Funny and Kenny Blaq, among others are expected to storm Abeokuta, Ogun State, for a new comedy show tagged ‘Why Not Smile.”
The famous popular stand-up comedian and master of ceremonies, Olamilekan Abegunde, a.k.a Dr Smile, announced the show during a press conference in Abeokuta.
The latest comedy show is coming more than a year after the popular comedian suspended his former show “Dr Smile Unusual” after its seventh edition in 2022.
However, the comedian said he has unfinished business with Ogun State as he is returning to create a platform for the up and coming comedians in the state.
The new show will be held on November 12.
He said “I never left Abeokuta. What I said was that I am done with shows in Abeokuta because shows in Abeokuta are not profitable. But I came back to Abeokuta because I noticed the guys I left Abeokuta for are not really doing the job the way they should do it.
“Secondly, there is no platform for them to showcase their talents. They don’t have the place of rehearsals like the days of Lagbaja, the motherland. Lagbaja motherland was a place of rehearsals for the comedians in Lagos. There, people had where they could test run their talents monthly.
“So, I took it upon myself to create a platform for them to grow. I have been able to grow because some people gave me a platform. But this younger generation has the platforms that I had when I was growing up. I said let me just create the platform.
“So, I am coming back to Abeokuta just to help the up and coming ones. I have seen them perform back to back and I am not really impressed. With due respect to all young comedians in Abeokuta, I am not really impressed with what I saw when I saw them on stage. So, I decided to say ‘maybe I have failed in that aspect, that I have not been able to create a place for them to have rehearsal. They just leave home and straight to the big stage, that’s why I just started the ‘why not smile’ show,” Dr Smile said.
He accused the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration of killing the entertainment industry in Ogun.
Dr. Smile said it was regrettable that the government has not been supporting the entertainment industry, noting that this has forced many players in the industry to abandon Ogun for other states in hosting their shows and events.
Dr. Smile who cited the example of the African Drums Festival which was introduced by the last administration, but not sustained by the Abiodun-led administration.
According to him, the entertainment industry has the capacity to generate revenue and drive the economy of the state.
He said, “Our government, particularly the Ogun state government must do more in the development of the entertainment industry.
“It is a shame that the current administration in the state has killed the entertainment industry. Ogun state used to be the hotspot for entertainment events in SouthWest, apart from Lagos state, but what we have seen in the recent time is that, this government has not been encouraging players in the industry to host events and this has stifled the growth of the industry.”
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