THIS year’s edition of Opa Williams Nite of A Thousand Laughs would go down in history as one of the most memorable comedy events in Nigeria, if preparations by the initiator, Williams, were anything to go by.
Tagged Nite of A Thousand Laughs Redefined, the event is scheduled to hold at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary.
In a statement signed by Opa Williams, chief executive officer, Virgins Organisation, he described the annual comedy fiesta as “the premier and very obviously the premium comedy show in Nigeria. Nite Of A Thousand Laughs has come of age and accordingly it has decided to be more dynamic in its outing.
This year, the event which is now a highly accepted show is now a brand of its own and in keeping with that, we have decided to look inward and give it a proper definition of what it is suppose to be; A Nite of A Thousand Laugh- strictly comedy and comedy only with a tinge of music. This is to give it a distinction from other comedy events, which are off shoots of the programme. We intend to feature only the top comedians and nothing else, so what you see is 70 per cent comedy from those that rule the game and 20 per cent music and 10 per cent upcoming comedians.”
Afrobeat legend, Fela’s alter ego, Dede Mabiaku is expected to host the event, while music will be supplied by his band and Omawunmi of the last edition of Idols West Africa talent hunt contest. Dede may use the occasion to showcase some of his new songs that is taken almost forever to put in an album form despite his being touted as the next Fela.
Williams said: “I do not need to remind you that Nite Of A Thousand Laughs is the master of all comedy shows, so this year like other years in the past, we want to prove it and consolidate on our successes.”
Featuring the likes of Gordons, I Go Dye, Basket Mouth, A Y, Maleke among others, the October 1 show according to Williams is ” a bomb. That is why we are having two shows as usual. We contemplated on having three shows beginning from 10am in the morning because that day being a public holiday, Lagosians would want to make the most of it, we however decided against it because of logistics issues. But next year, we are having three shows in one day, the first ever. We intend to make every October 1 a comedy holiday beginning from next year.”
