Basketmouth

Basketmouth
Basketmouth at the AMVCAs 2020
Birth nameBright Okpocha
Born (1978-09-14) 14 September 1978 (age 46)
Lagos State, Nigeria
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • film
  • television
  • music
NationalityNigerian
EducationDegree Holder
Alma materUniversity of Benin (UNIBEN)
Years active2000–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Websitewww.basketmouth.tv

Bright Okpocha (born 14 September 1978 in Lagos State), better known by his stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like Basketmouth Uncensored across the globe.

Basketmouth hosted a comedy challenge on Instagram, called the #TwoThingsChallenge which sparked an uproar from fans, after a young fan posted a video of him saying obscene things relating to sex, with a child in close view in the video.[1]

He was a producer of "Ghana Jollof".[2]

Biography

Early life

Bright Okpocha was born in Lagos State but hails from Abia State, Nigeria. He completed his primary and secondary school in Apapa, Lagos and moved on to the University of Benin, Edo State to study for a degree in Sociology and Anthropology.

Career

He discovered his skill in drumming in 1991 followed by taking up rapping in 1994. He then formed a group named "Da Psychophats" which had 7 members and they started going for performances and rapping in 1995, although they broke up before releasing any songs. He went on to form another rap group known as "Da Oddz" with his brother Godwin and Muyiwa Ola-Phillips: they performed a couple of shows but didn't break through as their brand of rap was not accepted in Nigeria.[3]

Basket mouth started as a rap Artist but wasn't breaking grounds so he opted for comedy.[4]

Education

Bright completed his primary and secondary school education in Apapa (Lagos, Nigeria) and then moved on to pursue a degree at the University of Benin where he studied sociology and anthropology with his brother Godwin.[5][failed verification]

Appearances

  • In 2000, Basketmouth appeared in Lagbaja music video titled Gra Gra.
  • In 2005 and 2006, Basketmouth won the National Comedy Award and the awards for Best Stand-up Comedian of the Year.[6] He was nominated in the 2021 maiden edition of The Humour Awards Academy alongside fellow comedian Mr Funny.[7]
  • Basketmouth appears in the Africa Magic show "My Flatmates" (2016).[8][9]
  • Basketmouth recently hosted Nigerian Billionaire Femi Otedola in his home.[10]
With Basketmouth

In December 2020, he started his comedy web series titled "Papa Benji".[11]

Music

He launched a record label Barons World Entertainment in 2014.[12]

He released a highlife album titled 'Yabasi' as a soundtrack for the movie 'Papa Benji' in November 2020. The album featured artists like Ladipoe, BOJ, The Cavemen, Bez, Waje, Duncan Mighty, Flavour and Phyno under Nigerian indigenous record label Freeme Music.[13]

In 2022, he released the album titled Horoscope, which features guests artiste, Johnny Drille, Simi, M.I Abaga, Buju, Peruzzi, Oxlade, Reekado Banks, Falz, Magnito, Illbliss, Dremo, and Flavour.

In May and December 2022, he produced music for Nigerian singers, Aṣa[14] and Adekunle Gold[15] respectively, under his Barons World Entertainment imprint.

Basketmouth confirmed that he would be releasing his third studio album, titled Uburu, in October 2023.[16]

Filmography

Basketmouth has made plans and been reported to have made a short film Confession of a Bandit and has acted in the short movie as Agent Gburugburu with his mates taking on the other parts in order to make the movie complete.[17]

In 2022, he featured in the hugely successful, Nollywood cinematic movie, The Brotherhood alongside Falz, OC Ukeje and Tobi Bakre.[18]

Discography

Studio albums

Personal life

In November 2010, Basketmouth married his longtime girlfriend Elsie in Lagos, Nigeria.[19] They have three children together.[20] In December 2022, Basketmouth announced via his official Instagram account that he and his wife were getting a divorce after twelve years of being married.[21] In 2010 he was voted as the second best comedian in Africa by the MNET's Studio 53 Extra.[22][23]

He has a multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Globacom, Amstel Malta, Kia Motors and Dana Airlines.[24]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2022 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series My Flatmates Nominated [25]

See also

References

  1. ^ MTVBase (2013-11-22). "Basketmouth arrested in the UK". MTVBase. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
  2. ^ BellaNaija.com (2021-07-16). "Superstar Comedian Basketmouth serves "Ghana Jollof" – Here's How You can Audition for the Showmax Original". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  3. ^ "Comedian BASKETMOUTH Full Biography,Life And News". T.I.N. Magazine. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. ^ Amagiya, Florence (July 26, 2014). "Rich and Famous : Behold Basket Mouth the comic Lord". Vanguard.
  5. ^ Informationng (2014-08-02). "Basketmouth's Book: Before I Write A Book Part 2". Informationng. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  6. ^ Abisola Alawode & Jumoke Rufus (2014-01-10). "What Did Basketmouth Do Wrong?". Leadership. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  7. ^ vanguardngr.com (2021-10-06). "The Humour Awards Academy releases nomination list-Vanguard". Vanguard. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  8. ^ "Basketmouth's new sitcom 'My Flatmates' premiers on AfricaMagic". InfoNubia. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  9. ^ "Why my kids don't attend my shows — Basketmouth". Punch Newspapers. 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  10. ^ "Basketmouth Hosts Billionaire, Femi Otedola in His Home – Premium Times International". Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  11. ^ "It's Finally Here! Watch the First Episode of Basketmouth's Comedy Series "Papa Benji"". BellaNaija. BNTV. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  12. ^ "Basket Mouth Launches Record Label, Sign Younger Brother". Pulse Nigeria. 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  13. ^ "Basketmouth drops star-studded compilation project, 'Yabasi'". The Native. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  14. ^ "Asa Live in Lagos". Thisday Newspaper. 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  15. ^ "Basketmouth Is The Latest Star To Cover TheWill Downtown Magazine". BellaNaija. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  16. ^ "Basketmouth confirms title and release date of third studio album". NotjustOk. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  17. ^ Tv, Bn (2021-05-04). "Basketmouth's Short Film "The Confession Of A Bandit" is so Hilarious | Watch". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  18. ^ "'The Brotherhood' features Falz, Basketmouth, Sam Dede, others". ThisDayLive. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  19. ^ "First Pictures From Basketmouth's Wedding!". TheNETNg. 2010-11-06. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  20. ^ "Comedian Basketmouth Missing in the Cut As Wife Elsie Releases Family Christmas Photo With Their Children". Legit.ng. 2022-12-25. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  21. ^ "Comedian, Basketmouth, announces marriage crash". Vanguard NGR. 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  22. ^ Amagiya, Florence (July 26, 2014). "Rich and Famous: Behold Basketmouth the comic lord". Vanguard.
  23. ^ Ige, Rotimi (23 July 2022). "Music star, Lisa Viola, reveals relationship with Basketmouth". Tribune Online. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  24. ^ Amagiya, Florence (July 26, 2014). "Rich and Famous: Behold Baketmouth the Comic Lord". Vanguard.
  25. ^ "Queen Osas, best actress, AMVCA 2022". The Cable NG. Retrieved 2022-12-28.