One of the top comedians in Nigeria, Oluwatosin Jedi Ayoola, popularly known as Jedi, is planning to stage a show in the United States of American, USA, tagged ‘The Family Man’ on September 1, 2017.
The role model to many youths in Nigeria recently relocated to the Uncle Sam’s country, where he is doing great for himself.
Jedi, apart from being a stand-up comedian, is also a singer, writer, actor and Master of Ceremony. He has hosted a comedy tour worldwide tagged LWKMD and several other shows both in Nigeria and abroad.
The multi-talented graduate of Microbiology from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, recently revealed his plans and his encounter after relocating to the US.
After leaving the shores of Nigeria, what has been the challenges?
Challenges? Lol… wish I knew how to answer or define what you mean by challenges. The United States first of all is a place that gives equal opportunities to all. So, you may be known in your own terrain or country or community, but getting here, it is a different thing entirely. This place is gig and well respected all over the world. So, one of the challenges I may say in answering your question is building my brand from the start.
Though I had a good push or start off but to build and maintain it was one of the real jobs I had to do. And at that time, the social media wasn’t as busy and influential as it is at the moment. So, me coming from a place that you had built a certain level of brand for yourself to a place where you hope to expand your brand relevance was challenging. Now it’s different, there’s been an exceptional growth and success in the brand.
What are the difference and similarities between entertainment industry in Nigeria and America?
Well, first, the similarities are there are performances in both places. lol! You have fans who follow you and believe in you, there are opportunities to become something or someone known.
Now, the differences are how all that I mentioned above are done. The structure in both systems are totally different. There are more income revenue opportunities in the United States for artistes than Nigeria. There’s so much that still needs to be done in the system to help generate good income revenue for the artistes. There’s a certain measure of developments in some areas in the Nigerian entertainment industry especially with the use of social media platform which there are certain revenue income generated.
In addition, the current economic state of the world affects both sides in different ways. The current exchange rate is a particular example. The basic challenge is like what I mentioned before, the structure for the entertainment industry in both worlds. In as much as we may look at how glamorous it may look in the American entertainment industry, there are still some challenges they face. There’s progress so far in the Nigerian entertainment industry but there’s a whole lot more to be done.
What’s the concept behind ‘The Family Man’?
It’s a stand up special, a stand-up comedy performance. More of like a solo performance from me and it’s titled ‘The Family Man’.
Family and career in the USA, has it change your mentality?
A whole lot. I have seen another side and approach towards life in the area of my family and career. It’s even changed most of my ways of operations, decisions I make, my performances, my approach to business and so on positively.
‘The Family Man’ what’s the expectation?
A stand up performance that will make people have a great time.
