Emeka Nehemiah Kalu Erem, popularly known as Ajebo, one of Nigeria’s rising stars in stand-up comedy, has a popular animated comedy “That’s How We Roll” on TVC, STV, Channels, HipTV.
Another, “Madlove” is what is trending right now in town. It is very popular online after he uploaded a video and it generated 150,000 views within 48 hours.
His company, House of Ajebo, is doing well online right now and is also stepping into advert creation. The comedian will host “Ajebo Unleashed,” which will take place at the Muson Centre onNovember 30, 2014.
A graduate of Mass Communication and a product of AY Show, he says, and as you know, AY is creative and popular. I grew up under AY and he is into drama and demonstration type of comedy. I just have to carve out my own niche, and animation is my choice due to a lot of people being into comedy such as stand-up, ‘sit-down’, ‘lie-down’ comedy, and so on.
Animated comedy is very expensive and most comedians do not engage themselves in it, but I decided to take a walk into it. In my first animated comedy, I had to put on the role of ‘Aboki,’ in “that’s how we roll,” and at least one in every four Nigerians has it in his/her mobile phone.
It was really viral. Right now, I have a full DVD album of the animated comedy that I am about to release, though most of them are not popular right now. The animation comedy is making me unique in a special way, and I am doing some comedy with Sheyi Law. Sorry, I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag; for now, it is a secret.
I have hundreds of thousands of views from my cartoons on Facebook, YouTube, and other social media network, and people don’t know the cartoonist but they just only know the cartoon. “Ajebo Unleashed” is a medium for people to see who the cartoonist is because they don’t know the face behind it. It is not a solo show, it is a 10-thing all round, meaning 10 cartoons, 10 artists, and 10 comedians. I also put out audio and videos through Mtech for people to watch.
People are downloading my cartoons here and there at the same time, you can’t sue them. How many bloggers, Facebook, Twitters users and other social media users do you really want to sue? But we are still looking at that.
Well, I am a radio personality and it is been wonderful on radio; this is my third year on Naija FM (102.7) and the brand has grown rapidly. People loving the Ajebo and the Fresh Boy of Naija FM. In fact, the whole of Ajebo programme is funny.
When I am on a radio show people call in and start laughing, saying “Ajebo you no go kill us.” I have also carved a niche for myself with the “Mid-day Show Workshop” between 11am and 4pmeveryday on Naija FM (102.7). It is impossible for you to listen without laughing unless your problem is bigger than the shows.
Comedy is my calling, it is difficult to come with one talent. I also do music and dance, but all these are not my calling. Comedy is my utmost calling because “he dey for body” (its in me) that is why I studied Mass Communication in my first degree, MSc in Mass Communication and will do PhD in Mass Communication, because I want to be an authority in humour and communication.
Yes, it has really affected it greatly, because three years on radio has not been easy but being a radio personality and a comedian compliment each other. It means more fan base for me because when you tell the crowd that I am Ajebo on radio most people will shout and will also tell others. So I see that as a multi-fan base for me. It is more challenging for me because there are a lot of work to be done by making people laugh off radio and on the radio.
Of course, I have it as a plan. The House of Ajebo is really growing because we will be going on TV before the end of first quarter of next year, and I am also working with different young comedians and I think by so doing, I’m touching lives; but I’m not as big as the AY brand where he has a show called “Open Mic” comedy show for discovering young comedians. Right now, I have two comedians that work with me directly.
Comedy is really growing, every comedian is growing on their own side like the AY Show; AY is also into drama and demonstration comedy; Basket Mouth is into sexual comedy; I’m into intellectual and animated comedy. I do my own thing the Fresh Boy way.
I decided to go into animations because animations help break down comedy. For example, when you say someone has a big head the cartoon will help the head become very big as you want it. It also helps to break it down so people can laugh.
Fours years ago, I was MC Erem, and now I decided to rebrand my name to Ajebo. I know what rebranding should look like and I decided to rebrand my name. Radio and comedy have been awesome to me.
Indeed, it has been so rewarding. I feel good when I stand in front of my office and a cabman passes by, shouting my name; it feels good when you come to a show and all my fans want to stand and take a picture with me saying, “Ajebo, we love you.”
The radio has not really been rewarding because many people know the voice and don’t know the face; many people know the cartoons and not the cartoonist. My face is not really out there.
The only problem is that people play my videos and don’t pay me, but had it been that everybody plays this video and call me for a show and pay me, “I for don dey drive helicopter” (I would have been flying an helicopter). In Nigeria, downloading is not as profiting as it is abroad. Imagine if every Nigerian that has my video on their phone pay for it, my brother, I would have been made.
I am from a family of four sons of Pastor and Reverend (Mrs.) Erem. My parents have been supportive. I am also from a family of preachers, which has helped me a lot; you can’t hear me crack vulgar jokes and that upbringing has helped me a lot. Yes, I’m not a preacher but if I preach for you, you go repent!
Every opportunity I have on a platform is an opportunity to impact lives. My first in Lagos, I dedicated it to God as a man that understands sowing, reaping and tithing. I decided to give it to God as a first fruit. I want to use this medium to encourage churches; please, if you see talents in your church, encourage them because if you don’t the world would encourage them.
Most artistes who started from the church don’t continue there because they will tell you that it doesn’t pay. Churches, when you see talents in your midst please encourage them very well by paying them.
I really want to put my career in order, and my major show, “Ajebo Unleashed.” I really want the brand to stand because marriage is another hard work altogether. Honestly, I will get married soon.
Nigerians are receiving international awards. If you go to YouTube, the whites are dancing Skelewu and so many other music. In fact, Nigerian entertainment industry is really growing.
Ijeoma Asiegbu
