Ace comedian, Atunyota Akpobome, better known as Ali Baba, said he was once a bus conductor and had done numerous odd jobs before he rose to stardom.
Ali Baba who described himself as hubby, comic, writer, photographer, poet, artist, artiste, actor, motivational speaker, MC and talk show host shared his 30 years experience in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with Sunrise @Channels Tv, Ali Baba said he came into his profession by accident and shared the good, bad and ugly tales of his career.
He said he started in 1988 just before the October rush, he started by being a professional heckler.
A heckler is a person who interrupts a performer or public speaker with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse.
He said he got so good in the act that people always wanted him to be present and around them at every show.
Speaking of the days when he had to hustle as a young man, Ali Baba said he was once a bus conductor and occasionally used his father’s car to convey people to their respective destinations as a taxi-driver.
“I have been a bus conductor before, from Ramah park back to Ogbaazu (in Delta State).“
He said he also occasionally used his dad’s Toyota Crown vehicle to convey people to their respective destinations as a taxi-driver. The comic actor said that his hard work eventually paid off because people recognised him when he ventured into comedy.
” I had my dad’s Toyota Crown. I will take the car for washing and I would do kabu-kabu (taxi), bribe him by coming with all the newspapers and put on the table,” he said.
He further revealed that he had done odd jobs like loading bottles in Super brew. He said his consistency and zeal made people recognise him when he eventually started doing stand-ups.
“I have loaded bottles before in Super Brew. Even the Ibrus knew me because during holidays my dad takes us to the village.
“Our own summer was in the village.”
“So when I started doing stand-ups, they were one of the first people that I visited and they were like, you are the one that loads crates and I responded, Yes I used to.”
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