Speaks on His May 3rd Show
Popular comic skit maker, Musiliu Adisa Adebayo Sanni, better known as Adisa Oni Taxiwill be staging his rebranded annual comedy show tagged: “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi”, on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at the Marquee Hall, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State. And the momentum of the publicity promoting the show has kept growing by the day shaking the Rock City to its foundation. Not long ago, City People’s SAHEED OJUBANIIRE caught up with the upwardly mobile comedy merchant somewhere along Quarry Road, Abeokuta, and he got him to speak about things to expect at the show. Adisa Oni Taxi, interestingly disclosed that he would be driving his taxi live on stage at the show, and how that would work out remained to be seen by the audience going for the event. The very interesting interview is presented here for your reading delight. Read on please:
For the purpose of this interview, please can you give us your full name?
My name is Adebayo Musiliu Sanni popularly known as Bebe Musiliu, and now much more popularly known on social media as Adisa Oni Taxi.
What has the character of Adisa Oni Taxi done differently for Musiliu Sanni, as against what Bebe Musiliu used to be for you as a personality?
Adisa Oni Taxi has made people see another comic side to Musiliu Sanni as different from what it used to be as Bebe Musiliu before now. Because, as a Broadcast Journalist who is well known by people around here, there was a limit to where presenting on air could penetrate at any given time. Apart from the limitations of the reach of the broadcast signal, there are also rules and regulations which would punctuate how much comedy you could bring in on air if you don’t want to cross the line. And those who have seen Bebe Musiliu perform on stage as a Master of Ceremonies (MC) know he is a fantastic comedian. But going to social media with the character of Adisa Oni Taxi has revealed to the world how unlimited Musiliu Sanni’s exploits as a comedian has become. In other words, the character of Adisa Oni Taxi on social media has broken down the barriers between Musiliu Sanni and lovers and viewers, alike, of comic skits online. The face and comedy of Musiliu Sanni has now gone global, unlike the limitations it had as Bebe Musiliu as a Broadcast Journalist, and MC at events.
By extension, as a Broadcast Journalist, most of the people who knew me were in Abeokuta here which is my base and is the location of the radio stations I have programmes on, though, I also have one or two radio stations I have programmes on in Lagos too. But my popularity then was more restricted to Abeokuta, because you cannot count top presenters here in Abeokuta without putting Bebe Musiliu in the mix, all to the glory of God. But with the coming of characterization of Adisa Oni Taxi, it took the popularity beyond the borders broadcasting alone could go. There are so many viewers and fans of Adisa Oni Taxi skits online who still don’t know I’m a Broadcaster, they only see me as just a comic skit maker. So, as I said already, Adisa Oni Taxi has given me another face. Another category of fans and followers on a global scale is different to where I was coming from as Bebe Musiliu.
The Bebe Musiliu we used to know had an annual show he called: “No Cure For Laughter”, but we are now hearing of another show from Adisa Oni Taxi called: “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi”. So, why is “No Cure For Laugther” being dropped or replaced with “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi”?
Yes, we have changed the name of my annual comic show. And just like I enumerated already the brand has grown much bigger, because when we used to do “No Cure For Laughter”, once we advertised it on the radio and promoted it on billboards in Abeokuta here, that would be it. Because it was those who knew Bebe Musiliu as a comedian who asked for a show like “No Cure For Laughter” for me to interact with them as a stand-up comedian on stage and so, we started that. But now that “Adisa Oni Taxi” has come as a far bigger brand, if I say I still want to continue the show “No Cure For Laughter” as Bebe Musiliu, those who are fans of “Adisa Oni Taxi” may not know the two characters are from the same personality. And that is why we decided to create a new show as a replacement for “No Cure For Laughter” that we used to organize. Of course, those who knew Bebe Musiliu in Abeokuta here are also fully aware that he is Adisa Oni Taxi . It is only those who know “Adisa Oni Taxi” who may not know he is also Bebe Musiliu. And that is what led to the creation of the new show “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi”.
Are you saying we should, actually, not be expecting two shows from you in a year: one by Bebe Musiliu and another by Adisa Oni Taxi?
No! It is going to be just one show annually. “No Cure For Laughter” has transformed to “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi”.
For the first season of “Comedy Trip With Adisa Oni Taxi” coming up, what are some of the contents you are putting into it that would warrant people spending as much as 1 Million Naira to book a table at the show as being advertised?
(Laughs) It is far bigger than that. Before now, those who attended “No Cure For Laughter” would attest to the fact that I don’t take total comfort and enjoyment of my audience for granted. And that owes so much to the way I was raised as a local man. I grew up knowing your guests should be treated like a King. And for me to be bringing people to sit at my show for more than 3 hours of their precious time, I know I need to give them the best of hospitality and not just hand out popcorn to them as they do at many comedy shows.
So, I always go the extra mile in terms of what my audience would eat and drink through out the duration of the show. That is one aside. And coming to what would happen on the stage, there are so many comedians on parade who I did not influence to bring together before now, that would be performing at this show. I mean those I could not reach when I was just Bebe Musiliu who are now my good friends as Adisa Oni Taxi. I can remember when I wanted to stage an edition of “No Cure For Laughter” then, there was a comic skit maker who I tried in vain to bring on board. I sent so many people to him, he was just giving them huge bills and the thing did not work out. But today, I can say boldly that he is my close associate. He has even called me on phone today that, my big brother, how is this and that. In other words, he is coming for this show.
King Sule Alao Malaika, Qiblah of Fuji, is coming for this show. 9ice, Adigun Alapo Meji, is coming for this show. Gbenga Adeyinka, The 1st, is coming for this show. Dr. Smile, General Olak, Koye Comedian and so many other comedians are coming. You know, Kofo Ibadan and the rest are all coming too to entertain the audience with undiluted comedy. Anyone who comes for the show would not realise the time is far spent until the end of the show. That is the nature of the show they are coming to see.
Moreover, star Fuji artistes like Alhaji Sefiu Alao, Sir Shina Akanni, and others will also be in attendance. Remember Sefiu Alao has featured in Adisa Oni Taxi’s skit before, and same thing applies to Shina Akanni. So, most of the top celebrities and entertainment figures Adisa Oni Taxi has carried in his cab in different episodes of his skits would be in attendance. And we would even re-enact some of the acting we did in the skit live on stage for the audience to see. It could be with Sefiu Alao and a few others like that. So, it is going to be maximum fun and enjoyment for the audience. Mind you, the Taxi itself would be live on stage for me to perform with. Those are some of the things being packaged for the show.
Talking about your Taxi being live on the stage to perform with, how do you intend to achieve that? Are you so serious about that or just joking?
Thank you. Is it not for you to come into the hall and see the Taxi live on the stage? You would see it, seriously. Apart from the Taxi that would be on the stage, there would also be another Taxi on the Red Carpet that people would be able to take photographs with. People could open the door and sit inside as a passengers in Adisa Oni Taxi’s taxi. They could take photographs and do videos in it, as they like.
What time is the show going to kick off?
The Red Carpet would start by 5 pm. And by 6 pm, the show proper would kick off. So, it would be advisable for people to arrive early enough because the show would start on time with up-and-coming comedians first displaying their talent on stage. And it is always better to see talents when they are still manifesting like that, unlike when they are fully established. And again, some supposed up-and-coming comic acts are even hotter than the presumed established ones, you know.
Would the show run for as long as everyone is tired?
Yes. There would be back-to-back comic performances from 6 pm to 8 or 9 pm. And after that, Alayo Melody Singer could mount the stage to perform. Then, there would be hip hop artistes like Churchill, Skaily Mental, Famous Ibile, and the rest of them. Then, there is Sule Alao Malaika to perform, so people would enjoy themselves to the maximum.
So, what do people need to do to be part of the show?
Everybody knows that you need to buy tickets to attend comedy shows. And there is a table for 10, Platinum Table, which goes for 1 Million Naira, then a Gold Table for 8 which goes for 500 Thousand Naira, there is another table for 8, Silver Table, which goes for 250 Thousand Naira. There is a table for an individual being shared with a few other VIPs at 25 Thousand Naira each. And there is also tickets for Regular at 5 Thousand Naira each, and they would also eat and drink too.
Finally, what is your message for those who may still be doubting if the show would be worth it or not?
Like they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating, I want them to come and see for themselves. Apart from coming to see for yourself, also have it at the back of your mind that you are coming to support one of your own. And I can assure you that you will not regret your time out at the show. So, let us meet on Friday, May 3rd, at the Marquee, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta.
Thank you very much for your time.
You are welcome.
-Saheed Ojubanire
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