Veteran Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, better known as Alibaba, has opened up about the painful family rift he faced after deciding to pursue a career in comedy instead of law.
The ace comedian made this revelation during the Christmas edition of The Honest Bunch Podcast, where he recounted how his father cut him off for a decade because of his career choice.
“My Dad Wanted Me to Be a Lawyer”
Alibaba explained that after leaving the university to tell his father about his decision to become a comedian, the reaction he got forced him to run away from home.
“My dad is a bookworm. He got his PhD at 86. I told him I didn’t want to study law anymore. I wanted to do comedy. He laughed, called my uncle, and they both said I couldn’t be part of the family if I refused law. That day, I left home,” he said.
According to Alibaba, his father considered the decision a waste of the family’s investment and completely cut him off.
10 Years of Silence
From 1988 to 1998, Alibaba and his father did not speak. Despite several attempts to reconcile, his father refused to see him.
The comedian, however, turned the rejection into motivation.
“People ask me, ‘Where did you get the inspiration to become a great comedian?’ It was because I wanted to prove him wrong,” he revealed.
Proving His Father Wrong
Today, Alibaba is regarded as the pioneer of stand-up comedy in Nigeria, with a career spanning over three decades. His success not only changed the perception of comedy in Nigeria but also paved the way for younger comedians.
You can read more about his life and career on Alibaba’s Wikipedia page.
Final Thoughts
Alibaba’s story is a reminder that passion, resilience, and belief in one’s talent can sometimes come at the cost of family approval, but persistence often pays off.
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