Ace comedian, Ali Baba said he was once a bus conductor before he rose to stardom. The top Stand-up comedian whose real name is Atunyota Akpobome, went down memory lane on Saturday, sharing his growing up experience on Channels Television’s Breakfast Programme, Sunrise.
“I have been a bus conductor before, from Ramah park back to Ogbaazu (in Delta State),” he said on Saturday.
Watch the interview below…
Ali Baba revealing his humble background said he occasionally used his dad’s Toyota Crown vehicle to convey people to their respective destinations as a taxi-driver.
“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 added.
Described as King of Comedian by some of his fans, the comic actor revealed that his hard work eventually paid off because people recognized him when he ventured into comedy.
Recalling how the family of the publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, (late) Chief Alex Ibru, approached him a few years back as they recognized him as someone who once did menial jobs for the family. He added:
“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.”
Ali Baba, who has marked 30 years as a successful comedian in the country said that his entry into the comic world began by an “accident.” According to him, 1988 was a defining moment because ‘October Rush’ was when people coming back from holidays had free time.
Promoters of the shows in the 80’s according to him helped shoot him to limelight by targeting students who were fresh from school with lots of cash that could attend the shows.