Ali Baba: Biography, career, awards, net worth, family
Ali Baba, born Atunyota Alleluya Akpobom, is a Nigerian stand-up comedian, master of ceremonies, radio host, writer, and actor.
Table of Content hide 1Ali Baba Biography 2Career 3Ali Baba shows 4Net worth 5Family 6Awards and recognitions 7Movies 8ConclusionAli Baba Biography
Ali Baba was born on June 24, 1965, to the royal family of Agbarha Otor in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. He was born in Warri and spent his first eight years there as the first of several children. His father is a retired soldier who served in Lagos.
He received his basic and secondary education in Lagos, at Ojo Primary School and Command Secondary School, respectively.
He graduated from Bendel State University (now known as Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma) with a degree in Religious Studies and Philosophy.
Career
Before becoming famous, Ali Baba worked as a bus conductor between Ramah Park and Ogbaazu in Delta State, and loading bottles in Super Breweries. After graduating from high school and returning to Lagos, Alibaba decided to try his comedy.
Ali Baba had intended to return to Ekpoma, Edo State, to pursue his master’s degree in law, but he had to abandon his plans after realizing that he could make more money on stage making people laugh than defending people in court.
He began performing at corporate gatherings and appeared on television shows with Charly Boy and Patrick Doyle, among others. He has made appearances on radio programmes alongside Mani Onumonmu, Bisi Olatilo, and Soni Irabor.
In 1991, he worked as an executive assistant for Dapo Adelegan of DP Lekki Limited for a short time before leaving to pursue his comedy career.
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He founded Alibaba Hicuppuray 3rd in 1993, and he has been able to mentor and train new generations of Nigerian comedians. He is now regarded as one of the most in-demand stand-up comedians.
Another major aim of the Alibaba Hicuppuray 3rd since its inception is to transform the view of comedians as ‘ne’er do wells’ and to promote comedy as a career and a recognized way of life.
Aside from comedy, Ali Baba has appeared in several films, including The Wedding Party, Alakada, The Last 3 Digits, Head Gone, and My Guy.
In 1998, he paid for two-year leases on billboards on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island; Osborne Road, Ikoyi; and the Marina in Lagos. The message was simple: ‘Being Funny is Serious Business,’ as he has become known.
Ali Baba shows
Ali Baba began holding an annual comedy event dubbed the January 1 Concert in 2014. Comedians provide a recap of the previous year’s events, and a first-class graduate from the previous year receives an award.
In 2015, he founded Spontaneity, a quarterly showcase for aspiring comedians. Woli Arole, a 2016 finalist, is notable among the competition’s finalists.
Aside from hosting several comedy shows which bring many other comedians together under the same roof, Ali Baba has also featured in stand-up comedy shows of several comedians like Ay, Akpororo, Woli Arole, and many others.
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Net worth
Ali Baba has a net worth of N2.91 billion ($7m) and is one of Nigeria’s most powerful and wealthy comedians.
Family
In 2006, Ali Baba married Marry Bassey Udoh. Xsara, Brandi, twins Ejiro and Tejiri, and Valerie are the children of their union.
Awards and recognitions
Ali Baba is one of the most awarded comedians in Nigeria. He has a total of 15 awards. Some of them include Diamond Award for Comedy 2008, City People Entertainment Comedian, and many others.
He has been recognised in Nigeria and all over the world. Some of his recognitions include his 2009 induction into the Johnnie Walker’ Striding Man’ Society, which honours men who have made significant progress in their chosen industries and who inspire and motivate others.
He was the first Nigerian comedian to ring the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Year-End Closing Bell in 2012. He is a Federal Road Safety Corps Special Marshal.
Ali Baba was interviewed on CNN African Voices in March 2015, when he discussed his ambition of professionalizing and gaining acceptability for Nigerian comedians.
Rotary International awarded Ali Baba the Paul Harris Fellowship in April 2018 for contributing to the Nigerian comedy business.
Movies
Aside from being a comedian, he has acted in some top Nollywood movies. Some of them include Ten Days in Sun City, The Wedding Party, The Wedding Party 2, Head Gone, and many other movies.
Conclusion
Ali Baba is one of the people who feels comedy is a serious industry that should be approached with a serious attitude. He’s one of those comedians who made a fortune while comedy was still in its infancy.
He is known as the King of Comedy since he was the first to perform stand-up comedy in Nigeria.
With his dedication, determination, inventiveness, and, of course, a lot of sacrifices, Ali Baba has established a space for himself in the entertainment world.
Ali Baba is a voracious reader who is always looking for new information. He enjoys drawing in his spare time. As he puts it, he always wants to be at the top of his game at all times; he doesn’t want people to say things like, “Oh, I thought you said he was the best.” And as a result of this, He is still taking things very seriously.
