The first woman I had sex with – A chat with MC Edopikin.
- We know you as MC Edopokin and the oga gbata gbata of them all. Any other thing you would like us to know about you?
My name is Jonathan Gbadamasi Agbonjor, also known as MC Edopikin. Iβm a Comedian, Compare, Influencer, Content creator, fashion lover, a husband and a father.Β
- What inspired your kind of comedy?
Itβs an interview session. Prior to that time, I had a lot of skits I created already, interview was not part of it, and then I found out about the interview kind of skits, you are asked questions, when you get it, it is ticked good and when you fail, it is marked bad with the x sign.
As a guy who has always wanted to contribute positively to the society, you know you have some things in you that you want the world to know. But if you go out and just start talking, people will see you as a mad man.
But when asked, someone asked you what is the way forward? Then you can bury deep messages in humour. I started by making everybody fall in love. Not just giving messages.
Nigerians do not like anything that teaches moral lessons, boring! But gradually I started dishing out deep messages, still maintaining the humour.
As per cracking jokes, we all tell jokes in our house, which was highly inspired by our elder brother.
- Growing up as a child, did you always know you would be a comedian?
Not really, until 2004 and that was the first day I held the microphone before a huge audience.
- Tell us about that.
It was in secondary school, SS 2 precisely. One of our teachers (a new corp member) walked into our class and asked; βWho can crack jokes for us, donβt we have a comedian in this school?β
At that time, I never knew there was anything like standup comedy, I could only think of people like Mr Ibu (the nollywood actor), and because I was very funny in class, my classmates started calling my name.
I remember how senior student used to call me and sometimes even buy me snacks to make jest of people in their class. I was paid one time to ridicule a girl.
And thatβs where preparation meets opportunity. While in primary school, my elder brother used to tell us jokes, jokes he watched on TV in a neighboring village on ITV where he was staying with our aunt, because we didnβt have access to TV in our house.
I had some of those jokes which I told in class that day and got everyone laughing. The whole school started talking about it, and that was when my teachers started calling me comedian.
- When did it become a profession?
It became a profession in 2007. It was a friendβs show, and I was to be paid N600. This was in Abuja and it rained heavily that day. But I told myself a soldier will not run away from war. So I stood under that rain and continue telling my joke even when people were hiding.
I thought; there is dignity in labour and just build principles around me and my work ethic. At the end of that event, the host gave me two thousand naira.
At that time in Abuja, my dad does not tolerate late night. You can go anywhere in Abuja but make sure you return on or before 10pm. Donβt come home when itβs past 10. But that day I got home really late.
The door was locked already, so I kindly sat outside the house and ate the take-away rice I was given. Later, my immediate elder brother opened the door and said βcome insideβ. So I went inside after eating my rice. Of course, I was soaked in rain.
- How has been the experience so far?
Fine, though hard in Nigeria. Harder in Edo state where almost everybody is hostile. Everybody is angry. Violence. Everybody wants to attack you. Stuff like; βHey see Edopikin!β βEhen, if na Edopikin nko, e dey put money for my table, abi e dey give me food chop?β
Basically, in this part of the world, before you can get people to love you, know that you have a good charisma. And I appreciate my fans because I know what it takes for people in Edo state to like you and call you βour ownβ.
In 2007 when I gained admission into Ambrose Ali University, I told my parents to rally and get the first school fees and leave the rest for me.
I was going to sponsor myself through school, which I did. From being paid 1k, 2k, 3k, fresherβs welcome, birthdays, then it moved to 5k, 10k and just went on.
When you are unique and creative, every platform will take you to the next platform. Some persons will tell you βbaba make they give us the platform make we take shineβ. You can be given the platform and still not shine, because you are leveraging on peopleβs jokes.
You copy other peopleβs work. You are not hardworking, you are not creative. Are you unique enough to fight competition? I never had to waste time on one particular spot. It was continuous upward movement for me.
But I never relaxed. At a time I was the most popular student at Ambrose Ali University, well known. Iβve had a taste of this celebrity life before. Thatβs why Iβm not surprised when people ask how I feel being a celebrity? Growing up as a student, I was a celebrity.
When I walk into girlsβ hostel, they shout! When I am called on stage, it was a standing aviation, people scream. I am walking on the street, people want to snap with me, calling you βour own wizkidβ wizkid was reigning at the time.
Yes, I was a celebrity in school, but when I got to Benin, I never relaxed. You know people are used to saying; βdo you know who I am? Go to Auchi and ask of me!β I never used such language.
I already know I was new in Benin, so I had to start from the scratch. Nobody knew me here. You donβt need to ask people if they know who you are. If they know who you are, they will tell you who you are. And that was it.
I started staying with MC Casino, sometimes I would sneak to some shows, he would say βwhy did you go to that show, do you know who you are?β I would say βBaba they donβt know me here, allow me to hustleβ *laughs.
I wanted to be known in Edo state. And I kept going from show to show hustling. I was disciplined, and the packaging was there, merged with talent, hard work and creativity.
- How did the name MC Edopikin came about?
It was in Abuja, normal area boy in maraba. We got swag and dress well. People would say βEdo boys dey dress shaβ there were many stores in our street and all the women knew me as βEdo boyβ. The popular song βna me be Edo boyβ was invoke. But you just have to play wisdom sometimes, βfor wisdom is profitable to directβ
Some persons donβt know how to apply wisdom when faced with certain challenges. I was a young guy at that time; I didnβt know I was going to be this big, but I was able to recognize the fact that this present Edo boy might disturb my own Edo boy.
There cannot be two Edo boys in Edo state. So I changed mine to Edopikin. I bought a shirt and printed βMC Edopikin. Here is comedyβ on it, and everybody started calling me Edopikin.
- Have you ever been tempted to leave Edo State?
Not really tempted. I would say disappointed. There are some stuffs that happen in Edo state and Iβm like βIβm just tired of this city menβ, and I want to leave.
But when you allow love overshadow your decisions, there are so many people who love and appreciate the craft, they are big supporters of the brand, they love me like mad.
And because of these people, you want to stay. But then, Lagos is a metropolitan city, and for entertainers, Lagos is inevitable. A time will come when you will still have to go. We shuffle Lagos and Abuja every time.
- Three fun fact about you, something we donβt know
Are they really fun fact, they could be. I started taking Alcohol when I got married. My wife was the first person I had intercourse with. Sexual intercourse. Though I used to kiss and romance and all that, but not sex. I was born dada from birth. Like Dada. I had locked hair.
- Wow! Mind blowing! If you had the opportunity to change one thing in Nigeria, what would that be?
Right now, it would be the Government! Otherwise it would be the mindset of the youths. From a myopic and gullable mindset. Have you ever heard of βschool na scamβ? School is not business.
You did not go to school to make money. You went to school to know yourself. Sigmund Freud said, βA man is born with a plain mindβ Man know thyself. When you know yourself, you can make money with what you know.
But when you stop reading, you will keep making mistake, acting so myopic, arrogant, ignorant, indiscipline, immature and very primitive. Yet, you would think you know everything.
Some will say βwho school help?β School will help you! If you are uneducated, you will be fighting people who are fighting for you.
- With the present education system and curriculum, do you think it offers people the opportunity to discover themselves?
Yes, it does. But you have to discover yourself by yourself!
- *Laughs. That means you may not have to go to school.
You have to go to school! Because you need aid to discover yourself. But you cannot depend on school 100%. Come on! Whatever I have learnt today, there are measures I took myself.
I studied Theatre and Media Art at Ambrose Ali University, Epkoma. But realised, I had never handled the camera in that department. So when I wanted to go for my IT, I had to go to Lancelot.
You need to make your own research. But the foundation is there already. Thatβs why itβs a researched environment, a citadel of learning. But if you are at home, how would you know who to meet or ask questions?
You know the biggest problem in this country, when we fail, we blame it on other people. There is a book on my shelf, βNo Excuseβ by Brian Tracy.
βOne of the greatest threats to success and integrity is indisciplineβ. (Put in quote)
And one of the place to learn discipline is the school environment. Because in school, you learn, you adapt, you survive.
- What three things are in your bucket list? Things you want to do before you clock 60.
To raise a very good family. Build a nationally recognized integrity. To serve as a model to others who believe integrity does not live in our world today because it does not pay, and it really does not pay (on the surface).
Otherwise by now I should have like 3 or 5 million followers on Instagram. Another thing would be to raise others, raise good successors, because a success without a successor is a failure.
- Two advice for young people?
Hard work pays. School is not scam.
- Finally, good afternoon sir,
MC Edopikin: Good afternoon my sister
- What is the difference between Nigeria and America?
MC Edopikin: The difference is very very clear na, Nigeria is an uncivilized America, America is a civilized Nigeria.
Interview by Mercy Omoregie
Wow!
Such an interesting and inspiring read.
The post caption really caught my attentionπ
Kudos πππ
Glad you enjoyed your read!π And thanks too for your feedback. ππππ