To showcase the rich culture of the Niger Delta people and celebrate their achievements nationally and internationally, stars from the region are set to feature in the first ever Urhobo, Isoko Comedy All Stars show billed for October 25.
Urhobo and Isoko are two neighbouring ethnic groups in Delta Central.
To take place at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Niger Delta people of Urhobo and Isoko extraction will team up with Africa Travel Times to host the epoch-making event; an evening of entertainment featuring comedy, music, cultural displays and art exhibition.
The show is a forum for unifying the people of the region, said ace comedian and co-programme organiser, Atunyota Akporobomerere (a.k.a. Ali Baba).
Ali Baba, Daddy Showkey, I-Go-Dye, Gordons, Bovi, Dr. Sid and a host of others will feature prominently in the show.
According to Lucky Onoriode George of Africa Travel Times, who is the initiator of the project, 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 Urhobo or Isoko. Is it Ali Baba or Gordons, I-Go-Dye or Sammy Okposo? Name them, they are all from that region,” he said. “This is an opportunity to celebrate these great achievers and to call on Nigerians to celebrate with us.”
In the last 30 years, the two nationalities have been at the heart of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, especially Nollywood and comedy.
From almost nothing, the Urhobo and Isoko have made the people proud by making comedy a lucrative occupation for hundreds of men and women across the country that otherwise would have been jobless.
Jude ‘Away Away’ Onakpoma, followed by Ali Baba paved the way.