Abegunde Olamilekan Temitope Oluwapamilerinayo, better known as ‘DrSmile’ is a professional Master of Ceremony and a comedian, fondly called the South-West ‘Comedy Emperor’. In this interview with ROTIMI IGE, he speaks about his recent projects, why cliques exist in the comedy industry and how he became the king of ‘laid-back humour’.
The comedy industry is big now and Nigerian comedians are doing well across the world. However, critics opine that most usually move in cliques and would rather do business within their circle. How true is this and how does it affect the industry especially upcoming ones?
It’s like that in every sphere of life. We tend to all do business with those we are comfortable with. Kindly note that every clique will definitely want to do business with the special ones, If you are very good at what you do, every major clique would want to do something with you. The only issue there is that we are still tribalistic about who to do business with, so in the industry , we have the Warri-Benin clique, the Igbos clique, the Yorubas too, but the likes of Funnybone, Kennyblaq and few others have been able to break the barriers. With time, it will get better.
Will you say skit makers have affected the stand up comedy industry negatively? Have they taken a chunk of your income/business?
Yes, because it’s got to a point where people mistake them for stand-up comedians. I have attended several events that skit makers would be billed to perform stand-up comedy; for the fact that they make them laugh on screen does not translate to them doing stand-up comedy so they end up using jokes from a stand-up comedian and get a bigger ovation because of the brand they stand for.
You haven’t done your annual show since last year?
You mean the yearly ‘DrSmile unusual show’? We stopped last year after the seventh edition which stands for perfection. That’s why God gave us a content that could go far than the yearly show tagged ‘Why not smile’ on all social media platforms. Hopefully, more ideas will be launched before the end of the year.
Was this necessitated because of lack of jobs or your decision to start skit-making?
With all humility, I’m one of the most sought after master of ceremonies and stand-up comics presently in the South-West of this country. Skit-making? If I wanted to join skit makers, I should I have joined over six years ago, but I don’t see myself as a skit maker; rather a stand-up comic which I’m comfortable with. Honestly speaking, it started like play; I had a dream of what it looked like and when I woke up, I discussed with my team and gave it a shot. In that dream, the location was given to me by Feranmi of ‘Bois Olorun’ band at Olere studios, When I woke up, I knew it was divine and I tried the first shot with my team lead, Ovie soft, and it was well accepted by my followers on Instagram and Whatsapp fans.
We decided to tag it ‘Why not smile’ because not everybody will laugh to it, just thirty seconds of smiles will help anybody relax.
What are you doing to copyright your content?
Obviously, it’s the order of the day. Tell a joke and it’s already a skit or colleagues help share it on other platforms. However, not to sound like a broken record, it will get to a point where people will ascribe the success to the original owners. We are gradually getting to that point in my industry but the audiences don’t care. The first to tell it owns it, but I pray it will get better soon.
How do you source your inspiration?
Nobody can get anything except it has been given to him by God. Nevertheless, the parable of the sower is a pointer to the multiplication of the gift from God. I don’t joke with anything that makes people laugh around me, so my immediate environment is the first factor. Research also makes it easier, thanks to the social media age. Trash talking from university days added a lot to me.
Who can you say is the pioneer of laid-back humour?
I have never seen anybody do it like this, I started it without a blue print from anybody. I stand to be corrected, it was my initiative but credit to Ali Baba who told me it was called laid-back comedy. I was just doing my thing as led in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Until I have a proof that someone had done it before, I will pride myself as the king of laid-back humour. Don’t misinterpret me. I didn’t say people don’t do comedy on Instagram or turn social issues to jokes but proper jokes telling in my recorded format has not been done or I have not seen it so to speak.
How do you get income, especially considering the cost of production?
Acceptance gives me so much joy and for the fact that it gives joy and happiness to people is enough for me. Yes, nothing is free, but the income from online streams got me covered. For people to accept my content in Nigeria calls for celebration.
What other projects are you involved in?
Next year is a great year for the brand Drsmile, because we will be celebrating 20 years in the comedy industry. My journey in the industry started on April 23, 2004 in Ilesa. A sister was celebrating her birthday and the invited MC didn’t show up. I was asked to fill in the time for him to get to the venue because I joked around a lot then but not as a comedian. I obliged and did some jokes which got everybody laughing. I also started the event because after my performance, there was no one to carry on and rest, they say, is history. It’s going to be a tour to all the cities that contributed to the growth of the brand. When the time is right, every other information will be unleashed.
What are your most memorable times as a comedian?
There was a day, I was already set to perform at a very big event when I got a call that my uncle who introduced me to entertainment (Kehinde Olomosola) had been shot dead. The news weighed me down. I had to look up to God and mount that stage. As God would have it, that night, I had one of the greatest performances of my career then. God took control and the crowd got larger. Another one was the day I lost a colleague, Peteru. It got to me because for the first time in eight years, he came to me in Abeokuta to share his dreams and asked me to be a part of it. We agreed to do something together. Dr Smile and Peteru live tour was to happen but death took him away. However, to God alone be the glory.
Having conquered Abeokuta and Ogun State, you stay more in Lagos now. Have you moved?
On a lighter note, we see Ooni of Ife in Lagos too, same with Oluwo of Iwo. Have they also moved? Lagos is the headquarters of entertainment and you need to be relevant in that city. Every successful entertainer must visit Lagos from time to time. Abeokuta is home, Lagos is my office. I think that balance the equation right? Oba no dey go transfer.
Your take on celebrities flaunting wealth on social media?
All the best to them. It’s their lives; they can do whatever pleases them. In my own case, social media is just my market place; nothing personal can ever be on my page.
Your prayers for Nigeria…
Nigeria will only be great again if we decide collectively to contribute our own quota and not leave everything to the government. I will end with the last phrase of the pledge which is ‘So help us God’.
Tell us a bit about your background and how you started?
I am a graduate of Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, but I was born and bred in Akure, Ondo State. I grew up like every average Nigerian child. I am married and blessed with three children.
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