By Mohammed Taoheed
Mark Angel, a Nigerian comedian, has recounted how he almost abandoned comedy due to challenges and discouraging comments from friends.
In a recent interview with Teju Babyface, the content creator recalled how a friend who was working with Shell Nigeria then mocked him during his days as a struggling skit maker, asking if it was skits he wanted to use to feed his family.
He explained that he started making skits in 2013 but gained the spotlight in 2015. He said even at that he didn’t achieve financial breakthrough until the next year.
According to him, “I started skit-making in 2013 but hit the spotlight in 2015. In 2015, people started to know about me. I think my breakthrough was in 2016. That was when I decided to do comedy full-time.
“I was doing photography and videography part-time before then. So, I just decided to let that go. It took three years before I blew up in the skit-making business. There were so many times when I was discouraged. But the vision and belief I had were stronger than the discouragement.
“At a point, I started doubting myself because of what people were telling me. I had a friend called Alloy who nearly discouraged me from this life of skit-making.
“One day, I was coming back home from the location with my laptop and camera, and Alloy who was working with Shell Nigeria then stopped me to say, ‘Mark, you intend to provide for your family with skits? Really? This ‘foolishness’ is your plan to take care of family? Just wandering and trekking aimlessly with laptop? At least, pay for a ride on a commercial motorcycle!’
“As at that time, I was investing every money I was making into my craft. Because at that time the only way you could get ahead was to pay bloggers. I even put one of the bloggers on monthly payment. I paid the blogger N30,000 every month to promote my skits.
“Alloy who was discouraging me back then now works in my construction company. He works for me now. So everytime, I teased him about how he was mocking me during my days as a struggling skit maker.”
