Before the late Nigerian producer, OJB Jezreel, gave up his battle with kidney disease, he told me he was unhappy with Nigerian comedians. During his struggle with the disease, he reached out to the public for financial support when it appeared he could not fight the battle alone. But he would later regret he did that
He actually made money from the public. He went to India and did the kidney transplant. But due to the ridicule he suffered in the hands of people, he chose to keep things to himself when the kidney transplant relapsed. He later died as a result.
According to OJB, his situation became the joke of the town. Even when he was in the gathering, they would say “if you are looking for quick wealth, all you need to do is to be like OJB and you would be rich.”
Anytime he heard the joke, he would laugh out. But inside him, it was a case of ridicule. The comedians thought it was funny, but it was not funny to him.
On Easter Sunday, during the annual AY Live at the Eko Hotel and Suites, something similar happened and it has since then divided the social media. When comedian and actor AY Makun called on stage the contestants of the recently concluded Big Brother Naija reality show to further introduce them to Nigerians, he made certain jokes. Kemen, who was disqualified from BBNaija following the allegation of sexual assault against fellow housemate, TBoss, was on the stage too.
At an even before his annual show, AY had pledged his support for Kemen. According to him, Kemen should be encouraged and left alone to continue his life. He did a mistake and he has apologised.
At his show again on Sunday, AY further reiterated his support for Kemen. He then made jokes about sex and how some men find it hard to control their sexual desires. He admitted that women had all the right to condemn Kemen but no man should scold him because men know the implication of ‘konji.’
Of course, the joke came with mixed reactions on social media. TBoss was on stage when the jokes were made and some fans believed the jokes were made at the expense of her feelings. As the same time, certain people on Twitter have also maintained that it was ‘all comedy’ and comedians do not have limitations when it comes to jokes.
Personally, I don’t think AY has done anything wrong even though I am aware that people are angry. Kemen did something terrible, he was disqualified for that and he had been subjected to ridicule since he exited BBNaija. For me, all he needed to do was to ask for forgiveness from TBoss and move on with his life. We should remember that if God decides to judge us by our sins, none of us will be here. Also, we already have an alarming rate of people coming suicide and I am sure we don’t want the number to increase. But if the society continues to see him in that direction and refuses to accept him back, committing suicide may be the next option.
When I spoke to Kemen personally, I suspected he was not proud of what he did but no way he could reverse it. Though I cannot say if he truly meant it, he said he felt bad that he let many people down by his action. Inasmuch we are trying to discourage sexual molestation in all forms, we should perhaps temper justice with mercy.
Though Kemen has not helped matters by talking back or trying to defend himself especially when TBoss’ sister questioned why the organisers of BBNaija did not dump him. Like a thief caught while stealing, he has no right to talk back. He should be ashamed of himself for replying.
And inasmuch they say comedy has no barriers, it will be wise if comedians try to relate with the pains of people. For me, TBoss’ situation cannot be compared with some terrible jokes I have heard in the past. You cannot crack jokes with peoples’ pains and sufferings, and you expect them to be happy with you.
Though AY has tendered an apoplgy, I think it is high time for Alibaba to called Nigerian comedians together and draw a thin line between jokes and silliness. If they continue this way, some of them will soon get themselves into trouble bigger than them. AY just got himself into one.
