Nigerian comedian, Bennett Chinedu Daniel better known as MC Acapella became popular when he won the third edition of Ay Open Mic challenge, organised by award winning stand-up comedian cum nollywood producer, Ayo Makun. The Imo state born multiple award winning comic act who also doubles as CEDAR Homes ambassador shared his life, love and challenges with NEWTON RAY UKWUOMA.
Comedians have a way of introducing themselves. What is yours?
Bros, wait first. No be stage we dey. My name is MC Acapella. I am a stand-up comedian of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.I am also a presenter, Chief Executive Officer of Purple Roof Entertainment, and the founder of ‘Comedy Goes to Church”. I’m a graduate of Public Administration at the Lagos State Polytechnic. I am from Orlu in Imo State. I am the fourth child from a family of seven.
So far, how has the year been for you career-wise?
It’s been great. God has been awesome. That this Buhari era is not killing us, means that God is still God. I just had the 5th anniversary of my annual event and I have lots of projects I’m working on too. So, the year has been sweet.
How did you come by the stage name, Acapella?
Well, I started off as a singer way back 1999. I used to lead an Acapella group of five boys. After I tried music and it didn’t work, I tried comedy, e work. So, I just collect the name put for my name the name, dey go. See me today, comedy don change my life. I never believed comedy will pay me real good until the day I cracked a joke and I got paid. So, tell me why I won’t stick to what worked for me? (Laughs). I don’t even know where the rest four members of the group are now.
Aside comedy, what else do you do?
I do strictly comedy for now and radio presenting. I’m an actor. I am also into events packaging. I can do anything entertainment. I might decide to go into something else much later, but for now, I am a complete entertainment man. Because of huge success of my show, I get a lot of calls from people to help them package their events. It has been God all the way. I am grateful to God for where He is taking me to. I seriously am.
How long have you been into the comedy business?
Ha! Ok! I started cracking jokes in 2002. If we go by that calculation, it will be 14years, but professional, I started in 2006. So, you know the maths already. It’s been a long time coming, but the journey so far has been tremendous.
Why do you always have your show in the church?
First, I still remember my root, where I started from. I do not want to forget that God gave me my talent and made me who I am today. My mum taught me to always believe in God and never to forget where I started from. Second, an incident happened to me that changed my career. I was invited to perform at a particular church in Lagos. While I was in the middle of my performance, just when the whole church was thrilled by my performance, the pastor told one of his ushers to ask me to stop and leave. I couldn’t make out what was wrong. I almost thought he wanted to perform, when he took the mic. But as he got to the altar he began to sound angry, saying he didn’t want comedy in his church and that comedy was not allowed in his church. I went home that day feeling bad. But I told myself that I had the task of making comedy compliant to the church. I told my pastor, Pastor Kingsley what happened and my plan. He didn’t even object. He just asked me to go ahead. And today, the rest is history. It’s been five years of taking comedy to church.
Does it mean you will never do a show outside the church?
I can do a show outside the church but the church is like my niche. As you know, I have events on a regular basis at Eko hotel, Museum centre with other comedians. Because of the huge market available for the comedy industry, a lot of us practically forget where we started from. The truth is that most of us started from the church. Doing my show in the church is a way of saying, God I still remember where I started from. It is always very good to go back to the root. But, I’m planning something soon that will be outside the church. Keep your fingers crossed.
How did you achieve this?
Well, one thing I always tell myself and people around me is that, controversies can never pay my bills. Yes, it works for some people, but I don’t want that for myself. Don’t forget that one day, one will grow old and I won’t really want that title to be attached to one’s name. So it’s been God all the way. I know the son of whom I am, so I don’t need all those drama for myself.
How well can you say comedy has paid you?
Wow! Comedy has paid me real great no need to lie or hide words else I will sound ungrateful to God.Don’t say how well, say how massive has comedy paid me. Comedy is good business, comedy has done me pretty well, super well if you ask me, because of comedy I don’t even know where my certificate is (laughing). Comedy has taken me almost round the world, just name it, Africa, Asia, and Europe. I have travelled and met great opportunities through comedy, comedy is my love, my darling that I cannot afford to cheat on it, that is how much I love comedy.
If you were not doing comedy, what else would you have been doing?
If I wasn’t doing comedy, I would probably be a singer. I’d wanted to do music at first, but if I was not doing entertainment at all, I would probably be a business man.
Would you later go back to music?
I really cannot say for now. I have intentions to diversify into music someday, but I really do not know when. I could do one or two songs, maybe to entertain my fans, but not for the cash.
How do you now manage to spend time with your partner?
Hmmm! I think she will have to answer that herself. Oh yes, I am in a relationship now. She has been very supportive. She met me as a comedian. She has been very understanding, it is actually not easy to contain us because we are public servant, but then I give it to her. These days I practically fly like I am from Edo State because of my job, but she has been there, so she has tried. But then I try to balance my job and my relationship so that it doesn’t clash.
So, when are you planning to settle down?
Thank you for that question (laughing). I am getting married soon in any of the Saturdays, I will be getting married to a very beautiful girl at that, but don’t worry,, when the date is fixed, I shall let you all know, but it is soon. I just hope the price of rice and tomatoes would have reduced before then.
Where are you more appreciated the more, Nigeria or outside Nigeria?
Well, the support and love I get from fans is huge, I can’t really tell, but, the love is just so overwhelming, I went for an Asian tour not too long ago, the love and support I got from my fans there was really impressing, so I can›t really say. I came back from London just some days to my event where I went to perform for Basket Mouth London Event, the crowd was huge, it was a sold-out show, and while I was performing, I could feel the love they have for me, I was humbled by it, you needed to see this crowd, so, I can’t say if it is home or abroad, the love is just overwhelming.
Can you marry a celebrity?
Are they not humans? I can marry from any circle, so long she is all I want in a woman, even celebrities too make good home, it all depends on how she runs her home, we have quite a number of them that have a happy homes no matter what, Celeb no Celeb, it is what you make out of your home that matters. Forget about the drama that is happening in the home of some celebrities, it is normal, but the ability to handle that situation is what matters, so, of course, I can.
What is your choice of woman?
Neatness, great sense of humor, lover of God, a woman that will understand and support my effort, and again, someone that will love me for who I am.
So, have you found her?
I never declared her missing ( laughing) but she has been found.
Are you not under pressure to settle down?
(Laughing) well, yes and no, yes because my mum is on my neck, she won’t let me rest, and no, because I can’t say I am taking my time, no, I just want to get somethings right first, one cannot over emphasis how good it is to be married to your best friend, I see the likes of Alibaba, key Bakasi and all, and I say to myself, I want to be this happy with my partner, so, I’m thinking marriage as well.
That’s to say you are in a relationship?
Well, maybe I am, but if I am not, I am not seriously searching.
Do you help other younger comedians?
If you follow Acapella Live in Comedy goes to Church brand very well, you will agree with me that we have a lot of young guys coming up. I usually balance the show in a way that when we have 10 comedians for instance, four will be established ones, while the remaining six would be those you don’t know. We try as much as possible to grow young guys too. We’ve had the likes of Chimara to Kenny Black, Still Ringing, Handsome the Mimic, this year, we had Sam and Song and more, these are guys that came out through the brand, and we believe that as we grow, other comedians will be discovered. I promote originality, and when I see young guys, who are really talented, trust me, the platform is for them.
What has fame changed about you?
Fame or comedy has really changed a lot about me, I used to be a person that is quick to react to things, like when I am in a place that I am not comfortable with the happenings at that moment, I react to things, it has helped in my mind set, but then, it’s not something I can’t handle.
It is believed by many that you are only a gospel comedian, are you?
See, I have answered this question over and over again and guess what, I won’t stop answering it, because I am not shy to say it. But you know, it is really very funny when people call me a gospel comedian, I am not just a gospel comedian, I am versatile, I’m just being me, I have high respect for women, I really don’t fancy using vulgar languages because I want to crack people up, I love to respect people’s opinions and ladies too, and hey! if you are cool with using them and it is working for you, its OK! but I’m just being choosey with my choice of words, maybe that is why people see me as a gospel comedian.
What is that one thing people don’t know about you?
I’m a very simple and easy going person, I’m sometimes emotional, I love to dance, I play a lot sometimes, and I hate to see somebody cry, it breaks my heart.
Your favourite sport?
I love football a lot, I’m a Barca fan for that matter.
Favourite food?
I love to eat healthy, I love to drink water, I don’t drink. I don’t smoke, I take fruits a lot, fish and vegetables a lot.