By Becky Usman

Alibaba, the renowned Nigerian comedian, recently shared a poignant story about the decade-long estrangement he endured with his father due to his decision to pursue a career in comedy instead of law.

During a featured appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast’s Christmas edition, Alibaba recounted the pivotal moment when he left university to disclose his comedic aspirations to his father. Expecting support, he was met with disbelief and disapproval, prompting him to leave home.

Describing the encounter, Alibaba revealed, “I told him, I said, ‘Daddy, I came from school to tell you something.’ He said, ‘Okay, have you been rusticated?’ I said, ‘No. I’ve decided that I don’t want to read law. I want to do comedy.’”

His father’s immediate reaction was to summon an uncle who, in turn, expressed disappointment in Alibaba’s decision. This led to a strained family dynamic, and Alibaba chose to leave home to avoid potential conflict. The ensuing silence between father and son endured for a decade, from 1988 to 1998.

Despite numerous attempts at reconciliation during those years, Alibaba’s father remained unreceptive. Alibaba reflected on the experience, stating, “I knew I couldn’t sleep in that house because my dad would beat me. So as my uncle was going out, I followed him to lock the burglary and I didn’t go back in. And my dad and I didn’t talk from 1988 – 1998. Ten years. I tried to reach out to him. I went one time to talk to him, but he didn’t want to see me.”

In response to the challenges, Alibaba channeled his determination to succeed in comedy as a way to prove his father wrong. The comedian’s commitment and resilience during this period ultimately fueled his inspiration to become a successful figure in the world of comedy.