ABSTRACT
In Nigeria today, stand-up comedy has undeniably assumed the status of a popular culture, given its appeal – nationally and transnationally – and the proliferated patronage it has garnered over the years. This chapter examines and underscores the seriousness that underlies Nigerian stand-up comedy as popular culture which comedians engage in to expose and criticise a wide range of societal ills while, at the same time, keeping its teeming live audience entertained. This way, stand-up comedy succeeds in stimulating a critical consciousness and reasoning in a way that is relaxing. The chapter critically analyses select performances of stand-up comedy by various Nigerian stand-ups. It argues that beyond the entertainment value of stand-up comedy there is a satirical value for the simple reason that the stand-up comedian, as an artist and product of the society, often unavoidably reflects and/or mediates his/her immediate society with the aim of affecting positive change.
