Well-known Nigerian comedian and actor, Bovi Ugboma, has said he does not create content primarily to please people, stressing that quality work will naturally attract an audience.
Bovi made the statement during an appearance on Beyond With Ezinne podcast, where he spoke about creativity, storytelling, comedy and his personal growth.
The comedian said creators should focus on making compelling work rather than constantly worrying about whether people will like it.
“When I am making stuffs, I am not making it to say, ‘Will people like it?’ I am making it to say, ‘Let this creation be sweet and the ants will gather.’ Sugar doesn’t go in search of ants,” he said.
Bovi also emphasised the importance of storytelling in stand-up comedy, noting that a comedian who understands how to tell stories can effectively control an audience’s emotions and attention.
“If you are a good storyteller you can be a good stand-up comedian because storytelling is about swaying people emotions from left to right, carrying them to a particular crescendo, that’s the truth,” he said.
According to him, even when a comedian’s material is not necessarily funny, keeping the audience interested remains essential.
“When what you are saying is not funny, make sure what you are saying is interesting. So you hold people’s attention,” he added.