BY KEHINDE AJOSE
For Chukwuka Adigwu, known professionally as Papumatic, producing Efewarriboy’s comedy special ‘As I Was Saying’ in 2021 looked like just another gig. Those who know his story would think differently, the show was more. It was a strong indication of a man’s mission to create structures for the creative economy to grow through talent showcases and community engagement.
Papumatic could not close his eyes to the bottlenecks impeding the growth of young creatives. Moving from the sidelines to the frontline as an emerging production manager, he saw firsthand too many Nigerian creatives barred from opportunities to showcase their talents, connect with audiences and build brand visibility.
“As a young Talent Manager,” Papumatic disclosed, “I grew up as a big fan of some of the most popular talents in Nigeria watching their rise from the sidelines. It has always fascinated me.”
According to him, “At the same time, I have witnessed the frustration faced by aspiring talents due to limited access. It’s a hopeless situation seeing some of them give up their art to make ends meet with menial jobs that can put food on their table. This was when I knew that I can be a part of the solution, one project at a time.”
The story of the struggles faced by young talents in Nigeria is changing thanks to the likes of Papumatic and others before him, such as the Makun brothers, Lanre and AY, Darey and Deeola Art Alade, Cecil Hammond, Opa Williams, Bunmi Davies, and Edi Lawanis.
Like it was for several creatives around the world, the dynamics of the industry change following the Covid-19 shutdown. In 2021, Earning a scholarship to EbonyLife Creative Academy in 2021 would provide an inroad for personal skills development and project execution from the masters of the game led by the founders Linus Idahosa and Stephanie Linus.
After learning the ropes, later the same year he would produce Efewarriboy’s comedy special ‘As I Was Saying’ at Terra Kulture, Lagos, a live theatre hub out of the city. The show was among the first major live theatre events staged post-pandemic drawing over 400 attendees and featuring a special performance by Grammy nominee Seun Kuti. The success of the show was heralded by the media signaling the arrival of a brilliant production talent.
This experience set the tone for his next gig – Odogwu’s stand-up classic ‘I’m Out of My Mind’, also at Terra Kulture. Serving as the Artistic Producer of the show which saddles him with a responsibility to dictate the creative direction and curate the audience experience. Taking it a notch higher the following year in 2022, he took Efewarriboy to Abuja for ‘I’m Finally Famous’ at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton. The event attracted a cross-section of guests including the city’s nouveau riche and creme de la creme of the country’s seat of power thus stamping his name among the pantheons of live entertainment and event production dons.
Between 2023 and 2024, Papumatic shifted focus to talent discovery and grooming. He partnered with Ekene Smith foundation to initiate community-based comedy competitions across different stages on the Lagos Mainland and Island.
In Surulere and Ago Palace, Okota, two happening areas on the Lagos Mainland known for its relentless nightlife, he made waves with ‘Surulere Comedy Night’ and ‘Ago Comedy Night.’ Budding talents in Lekki, one of the highbrow areas of Lagos were not left out as they got their chance with ‘Lekki Comedy Night.’
In between these platforms, several aspiring talents in music, comedy and dance found expression while also building their own fanbase from local audiences. From getting cash gifts from excited members of the audience, some of the young talents have also landed gigs to perform at ceremonies such as weddings, church concerts, street carnivals among others. All together, the initiative has continued to lend credence to Papumatic’s goal to build sustainable platforms at the grassroots that can boost creative economies.
Local ‘Open Mic’ platforms such as those created by young producers like Papumatic have become very important, serving as a feeder into a talent pool for larger platforms backed by big corporate sponsors. One of such is the Spontaneity Comedy Competition hosted by veteran comedian, Ali Baba, a key highlight of his January 1st Concert where winners are presented with grand prizes.
After moving to the UK, Papumatic has extended oeuvre, integrating himself into the nucleus of Sheffield’s culture. He is leveraging on his robust professional experience to make a strong impact on the culture by identifying platforms that can deepen engagement for local creatives and boost inclusivity.
As one of Nigeria’s brightest human resources export, his new international exposure now hands him a strong pedestal to deepen professional development and make a positive global impact while also boosting local talent diversity. His artistic credits in the United Kingdom includes supporting some of the major festivals around the city such as RivelinCo Midsummer Festival, Migration Matters Festival and Sheffield DocFest while developing his own flagship initiative: the Sheffield Comedy Live Stand-Up Comedy Festival. Chukwuka is currently working on Laff Supper with Ekene Smith & the 12 Disciples, a stand up comedy show which is to be held on East Monday at the Trinity House Victoria Island.
He reveals, “for me, the vision is broadening. I want to leverage my professional experience on a global scale to attract diverse talent, engage broad audiences, promote tourism, and generate economic impact for local businesses.
Starting from Terra Kulture in Lagos and moving to Sheffield festivals, Papumatic is nurturing creative talents and transforming them one project at a time. He is supporting them by building the right structures such as stages, systems and partnerships.