Did you know that before popular comedy shows like AY Live and Basketmouth’s Lord of the Ribs took over Nigeria, one groundbreaking show, ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’, paved the way? The Nite of a Thousand Laughs, which debuted in early 1995 by Opa Williams, not only transformed the comedy scene in Nigeria but also served as a launching pad for some of the country’s most beloved comedic talents. In this article, PREMIUM TIMES takes a nostalgic journey to revisit the beginnings of this iconic stand-up comedy show, the luminaries it produced, and the enduring memories it has left in recent years. Before the ‘Nite of a Thousand Laughs’, comedy in Nigeria was confined mainly to small-scale performances, local theatre productions, and the occasional comic relief in Nollywood movies.
There was no dedicated platform that showcased comedic talent on a grand scale. Recognising this gap, Williams, a filmmaker known for Deadly Affair (1995), Onome (1996) and Deadly Affair II (1997), created a show that would bring together the best comedians from across Nigeria, offering them a stage to perform for a wider audience. The idea for Williams’ comedy business came about by accident.
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