Nigerian comedian and master of ceremonies Chimaraph has dismissed claims that stand-up comedy is dying in the age of skit making.
Speaking on the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose, he insisted the idea that stand-up is endangered belongs to the past.
“That phase has passed. That was during lockdown. Right now, stand up comedy is on another level. Even online, there’re a lot of Stand Up comedians. The only time this would have held was during Covid when we couldn’t go to shows and skit makers would stay in their house and make skits, but right now stand up comedy is thriving,” he said.
Chimaraph went further, claiming that many popular skits actually originate from stand-up routines.
“I can even tell you for a fact that most of the skits are stand up materials that were brought to life. That’s why there’re a lot of skit makers at comedy shows looking out for material to use.”
When the host noted that many skit makers struggle with live audiences, Chimaraph agreed that the two crafts demand completely different skills. He shared a personal experience to drive home the point. Years ago, a client employed a popular radio personality for a major wedding gig after first approaching Chimaraph. With no conflicting booking, he decided to attend and watch the performance.
“I spoke to the client who then told me he had approached a very popular radio personality. I didn’t have a job on the show date so I went to observe the radio personality’s performance and I saw how he kept backing the stage. He couldn’t face them. It was then I realized that being an On Air Personality was different from being a master of ceremonies for a live event. You can be behind the scenes and talk to millions but when you have to look into people’s eyes and interact with them during your performance, it’s a totally different ball game. The guy did poorly. Even the client was disappointed.”
His comments highlight the unique demands of live performance and the ongoing relationship between traditional stand-up and the booming skit industry in Nigeria. While digital content continues to grow, Chimaraph maintains that true stage presence and audience connection remain irreplaceable.