Imo State-born entertainer, Bonny Okafor, otherwise known as Aboma by his teeming fans, is a comedian par excellence. Ahead of the Silver Jubilee of his marriage, the graduate of Business Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, spoke with MUTIAT LAWORE about his style of comedy, embarrassing moments and what has kept his marital vows thus far, amongst other issues.
You have been married for 25 years, how would you say marital life has been?
Well, I will say it has been perfect happiness largely because we always try to overlook each other’s weaknesses and shortcomings as humans. To me, this remains the golden rule of being married and staying married. Every day to us in this marital journey is like the first day and it has been all by God’s grace.
In those 25 years of been together, what are some of the challenges encountered?
Challenges come in different form or guise, so, it will be foolish for one to think marriage is all a bed of roses. It is very wrong because ask any married person around, they will have one or two things to say as the challenges they face. Simply put, whether anyone wants to believe this or not, married couples have their fair share of challenges. Like I said, it can be in any form or guise.
Most times, challenges linger largely because of lack of understanding of each other. Taking time out and making special efforts to understand each other helps one to overcome challenges in marriage. I may not reel out our earlier challenges here but the truth is we have had our own fair share of the challenges but the good news is that we are gradually overcoming them by the help of God, who instituted this union called marriage.
READ ALSO: Narrow escape: S*x worker narrates near-death ordeal
How did you scale through those challenges?
We overcame those challenges by going back to the manual that governs marital union, which is the word of God. Its application helped and it’s still helping us to overcome those challenges.
Going doing memory lane, tell us how you met your lovely wife?
I met my wife at Christian Pentecostal Mission, CPM, Orlu branch; that’s my home church though.
What was the attraction?
I may not go into the details here but one of the qualities I saw in her is patience. Again, she was a Sunday School teacher, which made me to believe that, at least, she has knowledge of the word of God.
Looking at when you started comedy and what the industry is at the moment; do you think that sector of the entertainment industry has grown well enough?
Yes, it’s audible to the deaf that the industry has grown in leaps and bounds, as many people are earning their daily living from the industry and most of the well established ones are employers of labour today.
For someone who has been in the game for long; would you say being a comedian is innate or can one train to become one?
I do not think one will make much impact by going through any training, it has to be inborn; the natural instincts must be there. It’s a must.
These days a lot of comedians tend to recycle jokes; how do you get yours?
So long as you have the natural instincts, through interactions, watching activities and happenings in the society, inter- personal relationships, among others; jokes will naturally flow in, you then add flesh to it, try it out among your friends and continue to finetune it until it gives you what you want.
Surviving as a comedian, will you say the business have been profitable to you?
I think this is the best place to pause and tell you that I am not like your every day comedian. My style is unique, it’s laugh and learn. By this, I mean I do take a second look at the wording of what I want to say and evaluate how it will impact on lives. Again, I do build messages around my jokes. So, my mission in this industry is quite different from others. People that watched Laugh and Learn with Aboma on NTA Channel 10 and listened to Laugh and Learn with Aboma on Radio one 103.5, can attest to this. Yes, the Bible says that “the gift of man maketh way for him” but it’s not about the profit but the opportunity to impact on lives. I believe the rest of other benefits will easily flow in without much stress.
The comedy industry is saturated with new set of young comedians; don’t you think they will one day push you the older ones out of the game?
The sky they say is large enough for all the birds to fly. Younger ones coming in is a welcome development, as I am not in a competition with anyone other than myself as a brand.
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet ends retreat, pledges commitment to Great Lagos vision
How would you describe living in a country like Nigeria?
I have learnt to believe that my survival is not dependent on the economic policy of any nation, our country Nigeria inclusive. Yes, there is an economic downturn in the country but my God remains my source of income and all that I desire; He never fails. Not joining others in pessimism, God will at His appointed time put the right people in the right places and make this nation the real giant of Africa.
Have you had any moment of embarrassment while performing as a comedian?
Yes, a church engaged my services somewhere in Lagos. As usual, I built a message around a particular joke, which was meant to correct ills in the society. I never knew that a particular woman from one of the security outfits was there at the venue. She got offended and came after me shortly after my performance.