Sickness Taught Me Great Lessons about Life, its Contradictions
• Earlier Frustrations about Night of Thousand Laughs Only Strengthened Me
Can you beat that? Opa Williams’ popular comedy show, Night of A Thousand Laughs, will be 20 years in October. And the producer is planning a grand show to celebrate the feat after making Nigerians laugh for two solid decades. In this interview with Azuka Ogujiuba, he recalls his trials and triumphs in the showbiz journey and getting to the apex of where he is today. He also speaks about his personal journey in life and how the crash of N4.2m SUV taught him lessons about simplicity...
The likes of Basket Mouth, AY and co might be making the waves in the comedy business today but it is debatable if these guys can say any of them was around 20 years ago. And that is the number of years Opa Williams’ Night of a Thousand Laughs has been in existence. Therefore, those who say Opa Williams is the godfather of comedy might not be wrong after all. And the man himself says he gladly accepts the compliment because he believes he deserves it.
“Whatever you call me, I will take. I see myself as a pilot who pivoted the evolution and can also see myself as the man who put together the framework, like this is a platform or space that was created for people to jump in and be well nurtured. Maybe it’s my calling to build this industry, through this means and in this part of the world. I think I’m okay with that, knowing that I got this platform. Maybe if I hadn’t, someone else would have done it, or rather be out of existence. Right now there is no dance platform and maybe somebody may come in and start up with it. We all have our calling and our support to the nation. So this is my calling.”
Williams says he cannot determine how successful he has been as he is what God said he would be. He admits that if God had given him more or less than He has given him, he might be no more.
“I cannot determine my level of achievement because that’s what God says I should achieve and I always place everything before God, because He is my fortress. He gives me all and supplies it. So what God has given to me is what he will give to me. Maybe if God had given me more or less, I would have been dead. He says, He will supply all my needs sufficiently and he has given me enough to glorify his Name.”
The Beginning was not Smooth...
Williams reckons the beginning was not a tea party as they were looking for commercial partners who would buy into the idea then. He says it is much easier now because many corporate brands have keyed in and that is why you see many practitioners now.
“Nothing happens when there are no sales. Same thing in life and even with the church, if you establish a church and no one buys into your idea, you won’t get members. When we started, we were looking for other creative commercial platforms and we started with Nollywood. Now the gates are wide open and people are coming in. So in the bid to do something else, this came in, but while growing, nothing happens when there are no sales. The Bible tells us to take dominion till I come and never said be hungry till I come. It also says the earth and fullness thereof belongs to you. So if you sit down and you no see food to chop, then you no trust God. God has told you what to do. So if you are hungry you have decided to be hungry. Whatever you do, I won’t say commercial, we should consider the beneficial aspect attached to it, like money, fame, guidance, and prestige. We had to give it a try first or we wouldn’t have been 20.”
Talking of partners, he says when he