10th August, 2015
Funsho Arogundade
Niger Delta people of Urhobo and Isoko extraction have teamed up with Africa Travel Times to host an epoch making event: Urhobo/Isoko Comedy All Stars Show.
The show, an evening of entertainment featuring comedy, music, cultural displays and art exhibition, will hold on 25 October at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The show, according to ace comedian and co-programme organiser, Atunyota Akporobomerere (Ali Baba), is a forum for unifying the people of the region, as well as an avenue for showcasing the rich culture of the Delta people and celebrate their achievements nationally and internationally.
The All Stars Show will feature comedy icons from the region including Ali Baba, Gordons, I-Go-Die, Ogus and Bovi in comedy, while Daddy Showkey and Dr. Sid will entertain with great music.
Also commenting, Lucky Onoriode George of Africa Travel Times, who is the initiator of the project, said the choice of comedy as handle for the show is informed by the fact that the country’s foremost comedians, at this time, are from that axis and are tagged the ‘Golden Generation’.
“If you take a look at the entertainment landscape, you will see that the big names are either Urhobos or Isokos. Is it Ali Baba or Gordons, I-Go-Die or Sammy Okposo? Name them, they are all from that region.This is an opportunity to celebrate these great achievers and to call on Nigerians to celebrate with us,” Onoriode said.
He added that the event will also have some artistes/comedians who are friends to most of the Delta regions acts including AY, Akpororo and Don Jazzy.
There will also be cultural displays, sculpture and paintings exhibition from the area, oral tradition and music by traditional and contemporary artistes such as Johnson Adjan (Ogbu ‘ri ne), Okpan Arhibo and Arube.
The Urhobo and Isoko people of Delta State have several things in common, apart from the similarity in the languages and cultures, the ethnic nationalities have lived side-by-side for centuries. Inter-marriages and mongrelisation is common among them.
In the last 30 years, the two nationalities have been at the heart of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, especially Nollywood and comedy.