Julius Okorie
Star Comedian and skit maker Johnmary Chukwumesiri, popularly known as Ogbuefi I Go Tuk, made history after emerging the first Comedian based in the East to win the Standup Comedian at a recently concluded Humour Awards in Lagos.
The feat is a huge one for the passionate comedian equally called ‘Ogbuefi Main Market’, considering that Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt are seen as melting points of comedy and harbor all the big boys and girls of the industry.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Anambra State born father of three attributed his achievement to hard work and passion even as he drew comparison between his Onitsha base in the East and Lagos in terms of benefits.
“In the East, people don’t pay well for comedy like they do in Lagos and Abuja. Igbo are more business-minded and won’t spend on something that wouldn’t bring monetary returns” he revealed. The ‘main market man.’ as some of his fans choose to call him, has made huge impact with his skits and comedy but remains a businessman and fashion designer, side activities which he said he had to venture into at the early stages when Comedy was not putting food on the table.
“As Igbo men, we don’t normally venture into things that won’t generate money. When I started comedy and I wasn’t making gains from it, I had to engage in professional fashion designing. I work in the fashion industry. We do only mass production coupled with other little businesses” he said.
I Go Tuk, who started his comedy in 2000, had to wait for 10 years before going professional in 2010. Now one of the big boys of the industry, Ogbuefi credits multiple award winning actor, comedian and United Nation Peace Ambassador Ayodeji Richard Makun popularly known as AY for his major break.
“I got into the Lagos market when I was invited to the AY Live Show after I met Yomi Casual at Funny Bone’s untamed show. He (Yomi) introduced me to Lanre Makun at the show who in turn introduced me to AY. I was billed for a show they hosted in Asaba, Delta State, in December 2021.
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After the show, AY invited me to Lagos for his ‘AY Live Easter Sunday show’; that was the turning point in my career. I have been going for several shows in Abuja, Warri, Port Harcourt, and to the United Kingdom. The journey has been good so far though there have been ups and downs” he recalls in one of his past interviews.
If there is one habit Ogbuefi has been forced to drop by the fame that comes with his progress in the industry, it is just moving freely on the street or walking into local side eatery otherwise called ‘mama put’ to eat unnoticed just like anyone else.
Responding to a question as to whether stardom has changed him, he said “No, it has not changed anything about me except that I cannot move freely like before. I cannot just go anywhere I like, wear what I like to wear, eat in ‘mama put’ (which is my favourite thing to do), or drink palm wine at the bar anymore. This is because when people see me, they begin to beg me for money and I wonder if they know my financial status”
And talking about finance, recall that in one of the AY live Show that he featured in Lagos in 2022, Ogbuefi garnered a whooping N7m in less than 15 minutes performance on stage.
Certainly the main market man who hails from Alor in Idemili South Local Government knows his onions.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
