By Sylvester Asoya
365Daily – Gbenga Adeyinka prides himself as comedian of the Federal Republic. In many ways, he has lived up to expectation as a detribalised and thinking comedian who knows his way around comedy.
Regularly, he brings his education and good knowledge of Nigeria in a most remarkable manner to his presentation on stage and in front of the microphone.
He is also patriotic and friendly. Those close to him say he has no airs, and this further endears him to people. These qualities are keeping him relevant, opening doors of opportunities and enlarging his coast.
From all indications, this dude from Abeokuta, Ogun State, has clearly done well for himself as an actor, comedian, writer, presenter and master of ceremonies. Apart from his enviable qualities and achievements, he is credited for creating and publishing Nigeria’s first comedy magazine known as Laffmattaz. This Chief Executive Officer of Laughter Incorporated has also joined the club of the rich and famous in Nigeria through comedy and other businesses.
How times have changed!
It was reported some time ago that this same Comedian of the Federal Republic had difficulty paying his house rent. Today, the story has changed for this jolly good comedian with no barriers mindset.
Adeyinka is also a baker and a strong business man who can take on anything that tickles his fancy. He is obviously not fixated on comedy as he continues to dabble into different ventures to live the life he craves.
Last year, he told a national newspaper in a no holds barred interview why he loves business.
“I am a huge fan of multiple streams of income, I’ve published a magazine, I do TV and radio, I have promoted concerts, events, and much more, so starting the bread business was me activating my entrepreneurial skill and diversifying.
“On the back of this is the fact that I will be creating employment and creating economic value. I am also a firm believer that there is always space for entrepreneurship in food, schools, and the service industry”.
For a career that started from a very humble beginning, looking back and thanking God should be a daily ritual for this talented comedian who loves to make people happy.
For the record, Adeyinka tells alice how he became Comedian of the Federal Republic.
“It was at the point that I was re-branding. In the past, I had called myself “The Next in Line”. But I was actually brain-storming when it hit me that I had worked in all the states of the federation, coupled with the fact that I am passionate and an unapologetic pusher of brand Nigeria.
“Everywhere I go in the world, I tell them that we might not have gotten to the Promised Land but Nigeria is the best country in the world and it just made sense to bear that tag”.
Adeyinka’s voyage to world of laughter began in his student days on the campus of the University of Lagos. According to him, he practically anchored all the shows back then and that gave him a start. He acknowledges that he has a passion to make people laugh and that has remained his driving force.
Upon graduation, he was posted to Benue State for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC where he continued doing comedy. Back in Lagos after his NYSC, he established a children’s party entertainment outfit for birthday parties and other amusement activities. However, he later ran into somebody he met during his NYSC who introduced him to Ali Baba and his comedy blossomed.
With a growing quality clientele and notable patronage, the future is already bright and this comedian is ready to seize that future.
(This article was first published in alice, the in-flight magazine of Air Peace.)
• Asoya is a senior journalist and prolific art writer.