A Billion Laughs organises first ever comedy conference in Lagos

Nigerian Comedians gathered urgently, last Sunday, at its maiden industry conference themed, “A Different Kind of Laugh Conference: A Conversation On The Nigerian Comedy Industry,” exploring diverse perspectives for overall growth in the scene. The star-studded conclave, held at the Alliance Française De Lagos, in Ikoyi, Lagos, was in full focus on the comedy industry’s bottlenecks and untapped opportunities.

The event’s convener, Creative Director, A Billion Laughs, Dami Aderemi, opened the curtains into the conference, explaining why it’s vital to stimulate the country’s creative economy.
The first panel, “The Impact of Digital Platforms on Comedic Expression and the Role of Comedy in Addressing Societal Issues,” sees comedians Forever, Romeo WJ, and SLK of JJC Comedy Club urging comedians to leverage social media while constantly refreshing their content.

Forever also emphasized the importance of writing new material to avoid repeating jokes, and Romeo advised skit makers to focus on their strengths, remarking that not all skit creators are suited for live stage performances.

Comedian Ajebo, the visionary behind House of Ajebo, equally shared his journey into animated comedy films, recalling how he ventured into the art form, in 2013. Inspired by popular comedians like Basketmouth and AY who used skits to promote their shows, Ajebo emphasized that he ventured into animation to stand out, admonishing emerging talents to “find a niche, develop it, and make it your own.”

The second panel, “The Bankability of Comedians,” which featured veteran talent manager, Ann Obaseki, and event planner, Ifeanyi Amayo, respectively, further highlighted the need for collaboration among industry stakeholders to expand financial opportunities for comedians.

The closing panel, “The Rise of Comedy Clubs: Opportunities at Home and Abroad for Comedy,” led by Philip Obi, founder of Laughter Cave Comedy Club, and SLK, compared the structure of comedy clubs in Nigeria and the United States, identifying growth areas and opportunities.

While delivering his Keynote speech, Comedian and Broadcaster, IK Osakioduwa, urged comedians to capitalize on their uniqueness by diversifying their skills while understanding the business side of comedy.

In his closing remarks, Ali Baba stressed the importance of building structure, refining one’s brand, and harnessing social media’s power. True to his style, his talk was peppered with humor, leaving the audience both entertained and inspired. The conference concluded with a ten-minute performance by Improv Circle, bringing a memorable close to the day’s events.

Organized by A Billion Laughs in partnership with JJC Comedy Club and Laughter Cave Comedy Club, “A Different Kind Of Laugh Conference” successfully opened discussions on the future of Nigerian comedy, offering valuable insights and actionable strategies for comedians and industry stakeholders alike.