In marking his 30th Anniversary in the industry, Okey Bakassi toured Nigerian universities; University of Abuja, Rivers State University, Imo State University and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu to scout for potential talent in comedy.
Nigerian comedian, Okey Bakassi says the death of Mohbad might be the catalyst to get the Nigerian entertainment industry to prevent a ‘2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G‘ incidence.
The veteran comedian said the death of American rappers, Tupac Amaru Shakur, alias ‘2Pac’ and Christopher Wallace alias ‘Notorious B.I.G’ due to gangsterism in the industry exposed the dire need to address that dark side.
Okey Bakassi was speaking on National TV ahead of his 30th anniversary as a comedian and one of those to introduce and transform stand up comedy in Nigeria.
The founder of the ‘Night of A Thousand Laughs’ explained that the western entertainment industry had a negative grip on Nigerians as local music videos contained vulgar languages, persons smoking marijuana, young men surrounded by many unclad girls.
These he said was a continuous unconscious way of glamourising evil in the industry and “yet when these things happen (like MohBads) we act surprised”.
Okey Bakassi whose real name is Okechukwu Onyebule also cautioned entertainers to see their arts as a profession not a lifestyle which would save them from wasteful spendings and depression in the happenstance of a downturn in their earnings.
Writing by Muzha Kucha; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade