Nigeria’s first comedy festival to debut in Lagos

Nigeria’s position as the entertainment capital
of Africa has often been demonstrated with
the global success of our film industry,
Nollywood, and music. But a third contributor,
Comedy, is now about to get up and take its
place.

As Nigerian comedians continue to build a
thriving industry out of little, consumers have
come to embrace Nigerian comedy as
preferred entertainment content, causing
revenues to grow up to the billion naira mark
in the past five years, and influences on
music, movies, public relations and advertising
skyrocketing.
According to pioneer stand-up comedian Ali
Baba, the industry is now estimated to be
worth around 1 billion naira, as of December
2016.
The industry will now welcome its first festival,
a much-needed platform to discuss past,
present and future issues and opportunities,
showcase talent, celebrate legends, buy and
sell, and teach.
Eko Comedy Festival, so named because of its
Lagos origin, will hold in May of 2017, as part
of what organisers, First Class Entertainment,
say is a timely intervention to restructure the
comedy industry, while preparing the market
for a future that can see comedy contribute
remarkable to Nigeria and Africa’s GDP.
‘Our industry has indeed come of age, thriving
through many generations and genres’, says
founder Tunde Adewale.
‘ECOFEST is a celebration of the Nigerian
comedy industry, and we’re glad that our
debut coincides with the 50th anniversary of
our host state, Lagos.’