Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, professionally known as Ali Baba, is a
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
stand-up comedian, master of ceremonies and actor.
Early life
Ali Baba was born in
Warri
The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri and her twin city, Uvwie are the commercial c ...
,
Delta State, Nigeria on 24 June 1965, to the royal family of Agbarha Otor. He is the first son of several children and spent his first 8 years in Warri. His father is a retired soldier who served in
Lagos
Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...
.
Education
He attended Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos ,and Ibru College Agbarha-Otor, Delta. He attended Bendel State University (now
Ambrose Alli University
Ambrose Alli University (AAU) is a state-owned university in Edo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1981 by the governor of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States), Ambrose Folorunsho Alli. Initially known as Bendel State University, sub ...
),
Ekpoma and graduated with a degree in Religious Studies & Philosophy.
Career
After completing his academic degree in 1990, he relocated back to
Lagos
Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...
, to develop his comedic talent he discovered at the university. Originally, he planned to study Law but decided he could be more successful by making people laugh than by defending them.
Professional career
He began his professional career performing at corporate events, appearing on television shows with
Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle (born 6 April 1953) is a Scottish film composer with Irish heritage. A longtime collaborator of actor-director Kenneth Branagh, Doyle is known for his work composing for films such as ''Henry V'', '' Sense and Sensibility'', ''Haml ...
,
Charly Boy
Charly Boy, born Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, 19 June 1950 (also known as CB, His Royal Punkness, and Area Fada), is a Nigerian singer/songwriter, television presenter, actor, publisher, and producer. One of Nigeria's most controversial entertai ...
, and Danladi Bako, and making cameo appearances on radio shows with Bisi Olatilo, Sani Irabor, and Mani Onumonmu. He also worked with
Prince Adedapo Benjamin Adelegan of DP Lekki Limited as executive assistant in 1991.
In 2014, Ali Baba started an annual comedy event called the 1 January concert. Comedians come up to review the events of the previous year and a first-class graduate from the preceding year receives an award.
In 2015 he started an event called Spontaneity; a quarterly event for budding comedians. Notable among the finalists of this competition is
Woli Arole at the 2016 edition.
Ali Baba maintains the philosophy that his business is big enough for all who want to make comedy their chosen profession. As such, he supports, mentors, and presents several comedians helping to ensure that standards are maintained and professionalism encouraged.
Awards
Recognition
Ali Baba was inducted into the
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a brand of Scotch whisky now owned by Diageo that originated in the Scottish burgh of Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire. The brand was first established by grocer John Walker. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Sc ...
'Striding Man' Society in 2009 which recognizes men who have achieved great strides in their chosen fields and who motivate and encourage others
[''Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote his forward'' from Nigerian Film website. Retrieved on 15 September 2008, from http://www.nigeriafilms.com/content.asp?ContentTypeID=7&contentid=3122]
In 2012, he rang the Year End Closing Bell of the
Nigerian Stock Exchange
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) now Nigerian Exchange Group is a Nigerian stock exchange founded in 1961 in Lagos. As of November 2019, it has a total of 161 listed companies, with 8 domestic companies on the premium board, 144 companies on the ...
, the first Nigerian comedian to do so.
He is a Special Marshal of the
Federal Road Safety Corps.
In March 2015, Ali Baba was featured o
CNN African voices speaking about his goal to professionalize and gain acceptance for Nigerian comedians.
In April 2018, Ali Baba received the Paul Harris Fellowship by
Rotary International
Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its stated mission is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through hefellowship of business, prof ...
for his contribution to the Nigerian Comedy industry
Family
Ali Baba is married to
Mary Akpobome Ali Baba has five children three girls and two boys.
Personal life
Ali Baba is an avid reader and enjoys painting. he survived
covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
Select filmography
*''My Guy'' (1998)
*''The Last 3 Digits'' (2014)
*''Head Gone'' (2014)
*''
The Wedding Party'' (2016)
*''Alakada'' (2017)
See also
*
List of Nigerian comedians
This is a list of notable Nigerian comedians.
A
* Abiodun Ayoyinka (born 1960)
* Akpororo
* Alibaba Akporobome (born 1965)
*Ayo Makun (born 1971)
B
* Basketmouth (born 1978)
* Bovi (born 1979)
* Broda Shaggi (born 1993)
* Buchi (born 1979 ...
References
External links
Xclusive Features on Ali Baba and other Nigerian comedians
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akpobome, Alibaba
Living people
1965 births
Nigerian male comedians
Ambrose Alli University alumni
Nigerian television personalities
Nigerian male film actors
Male actors from Warri
21st-century Nigerian male actors
Actors from Delta State
20th-century births
Nigerian stand-up comedians