Basketmouth Unveils Five-Year Exit Plan from Comedy
Nigerian comedian and recording artist, Basketmouth, has announced a strategic five-year plan to transition from comedy to explore filmmaking and music. In an exclusive interview over the weekend, the 45-year-old comedian, Bright Okpocha, shared his intention to step away from the comedy scene to diversify his entertainment portfolio and build his own empire.
Having initially shifted from a music career to comedy in the 1990s, Basketmouth expressed certainty about returning to music. The success of the popular sitcom, “My Flatmates,” which he produces and stars in, further strengthened his belief in exploring various sectors within the entertainment industry.
The comedian outlined his plans for the next five years, including a series of annual comedy shows leading up to his full departure. Basketmouth stated, “I’ll be 50 in five years; I’d have moved on to something else that’d be taking much of my time, and I don’t want to cheat comedy. I want to give it a 100%. I know that in five years, I can blend all the interests and go fully into movies, TV, and music concerts. It’s going to be hard to do all these things and still give 100% to comedy.”
Expressing concerns about the challenges within the Nigerian comedy industry, Basketmouth highlighted the lack of structured support for comedians compared to the music and film sectors. He emphasized the absence of global exposure for comedians, particularly through streaming platforms, impacting the growth and refinement of their craft.
Addressing the decline of stand-up comedy culture, Basketmouth attributed it to the absence of platforms for emerging comedians to practice and hone their skills. To tackle this issue, he revealed plans to collaborate on a show named “One Night Stand,” aiming to provide exposure for new comics on a global scale.
Despite his exit plan, Basketmouth left the possibility of a return in the future, stating, “As a comedian, you can’t stop writing materials so I’ll keep writing, and maybe in another 10 or 15 years after now, I might come back. We have a 15-year plan.”
