By JAMES EMMANUEL
jamescode2000@yahoo.co.in

In Nigeria, a tension soaked clime where anger and frustration seem to have enveloped many, the business of comedy which was hitherto taken for granted has begin to blossom, making celebrity out of many and  serving as means of livelihood for others.
However, in this business of humour, vulgar language has become the lingua franca, leading to the emergence of the term ‘off-colour joke’, an Americanism used to describe various dirty, crude and vulgar jokes.
The absence of any body saddled with the responsibility of defining standard and regulating content, coupled with the erosion of morals in the society, is gradually making vulgar jokes the order of the day, without recourse to decorum.
Entertainment Express highlights some of the ace and fast-rising comedians who deal with topics that are considered to be in poor taste or overtly vulgar in Nigeria’s socio-cultural setting. To these ones, lewd language syndrome is the new formula for comedy, a possible reason, most of their fans, especially couples, now think twice before taking their children and wards to any of the shows organized by most of these comedians.

BASKET MOUTH
Today, he is one of the most celebrated comedians in the country. From the day he stepped his foot into the Nigeria comedy industry, Basket mouth whose real name is Bright Okpocha has been very raw and vulgar, though engaging.
Most of his jokes, if not all, are not devoid of four-lettered words.  One of his jokes entitled ‘how ladies confuse Nigeria pastors’ describes Nigerian Pastors as sex-craving mortal men, men with unquenchable desire for anything below the skirts. To him, in the joke, Pastors are mere opportunists who satisfy sexual yearnings during sermons, as most female worshippers are always skimpily dressed and end up revealing vital cleavages.
Another of his jokes ‘Uncensored’ part one and two are not in any way decent.  As usual, Basket mouth will give his audience a good laugh, but they must be ready to compromise decorum, at least, from the beginning of his jokes till the end. Like a basket, his mouth continually leaks with off-colour jokes— downright dirty jokes. A reason most parents no longer take their children to any of his shows. This was one of the reasons his recently held show at Eko Hotels, African Kings of Comedy, was poorly attended, because most parents who enjoy attended his shows with their entire families decided to stay away, so that their children will be spared from listening to dirty talks all in the name of jokes.
LEPACIOUS BOSE
“Even if Ali Baba says certain things and people roll off their chairs, if you do the same thing, as a woman, people will bounce off wrongly. There are imaginary boundaries in the industry and you must understand them and live by them unless you want to waste your time. I hardly crack vulgar jokes. I can try to be witty and naughty at times, but as a rule, I try as much as possible not to crack indecent jokes”, declared the thick humour merchant, Lepacious Bose.
Ace comedienne, Bose Ogunboye, popularly known as Lepacious Bose is in a class of her own. Though she tries to be decent, according to her, but her tongue never fails to disappoint her most times as she usually ends up in vulgarism. At a recent event, Shan George’s movie premiere, she stole the night with her rib-cracking dirty jokes that swayed all with laughter.
If you are wondering why she goes dirty at times, the plus-size comedienne has a ready-made answer for that: “There are some antics or languages our male counterparts can perform on stage; if we {female} try it, it may look vulgar and could be labeled a prostitute. Everybody has his own opinion of what funny is or not.”
Called to the Bar in 2001, the Theatre Arts degree holder from the University of Ibadan uses all the available antics to induce laughter because she must survive.  “I’m in comedy not because I think I’m funny but because I have to make a living”, she earlier said.
I GO DYE
With his vulgar, yet irresistible jokes, Francis Agoda, popularly known as I Go Dye, has maintained a steady rise to stardom. Ever before coming into limelight, the humour merchant had earlier been turned down on four occasions for incompetence.
He was turned down, many years back, by the organisers of Nite of a Thousand Laughs, on the ground that he was not too good to perform on their stage. But with his never-say-die spirit, the youthful and talented act went and reinvented himself.
Today, the Delta State-born rib cracker makes no pretences about decorum and thrives on unabashed use of sexually-explicit words, not minding whose ox is gored. His mouth, like Basket mouth, leaks with all kinds of jokes- clean jokes, tolerable jokes and downright dirty jokes- what majority describe as survival strategy. He is fast losing his fans base due to vulgar jokes and unnecessary show of braggadocio whenever on stage
MALEKE
“People even laugh more when you say the raw jokes than when you talk about Nigeria, Europe or any other topic. As a comedian, you must be equipped with the raw, conventional, and all categories of jokes”, declared the Edo State-based rib cracker- cum-struggling musician.
His journey into the world of vulgarism dates back to his early school days.
The comedian indeed learnt his lewd language well enough, as he today uses sexually explicit language with ease. Though many believe sometimes he soaks himself with alcohol before mounting the stage.
MANDY
No one would be wrong to describe her as the grandmother of comedians in the country, especially when Ali Baba is referred to as the grandfather of Nigerian comedians.
The Delta State-born actress cum comedian found her way into the entertainment industry in since 1992, via the Charly Boy Show, a one-time popular television programme.  She remained on the show until the first opportunity of performing as a stand-up comedian came her way.
Today, the Political Science graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State has a stock in trade, which is vulgarism. With her presence, even the bereaved would laugh, as long as decorum is put aside. To her, dirty language is not a sin, as long as it will make people squirm in their seats and reel on the floor with laughter.
I GO SAVE
Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke, popularly known as ‘I Go Save,’ is among the comedians currently creating waves in the industry.
The Delta State-born self- professed saviour throws away all sense of decency whenever his time comes to save. Some even argued that his Warri upbringing is more visible in him than any other comedian from the region. Indeed, the Waffi lifestyle has overshadowed his education, making the fast rising comedian a merchant of vulgar jokes.
MR. PATRICK
If you had attended the third edition of Mr. Patrick’s comedy and music concert- Jokes Apart- held on Saturday, March 31 or any of his numerous outings, maybe you would have gotten a more practical definition of what dirty languages are.
The well acknowledged rib-cracker would thrill and titillate any audience, irrespective of age or socio-cultural background, but at the expense of moral standards. To him also, the use of foul languages is never a sin-outspoken word does not fit into the definition of sins; only action does.
ALINCOLOGY
“Laughter is good medicine”; they say, but too much of it mixed with lewd languages could be a moral threat. Like his colleagues, someone needs to pass this message to Alincology.
The Budding comedian, on Sunday, June 3, 2012 proved his mettle again in vulgarism in a well attended rib-cracking event tagged, “Laff and Live Long”, held at Tee’s Place, opposite Clam Church, Omole Phase 1, Ojodu Berger, Lagos.
Even though he makes the days of his audience quite memorable, the phrase ‘adult only’ seems to befit most of his jokes, as they are not only said to be vulgar, but sexually seducing at times.
MC BASKET MOUTH
Ernest Essien, popularly known as MC Basket mouth is synonymous with musical comedy due to his unique style of jokes presentation. The popularity of the top comedian, who was discovered at Opa Willaims’ Night of a Thousand Laughs, continues to soar in the face of serious competition.
The Nkpat, Akwa Ibom State-born comedian is well-known for his popular song, Nigerian Girls, where he vulgarly and abusively makes fun of the sexual lives of Nigerian girls from different tribes.
The comedy song, among his other jokes, unabashedly thrives on sexually explicit words, making it good, only for an adult-adult without sense of decency. Though all would have fun while his sexually oriented song lasts, but when children and morally conscious adults are involved, the reverse might be the case.
Essien, who described himself as a barrack boy, explained that although he started comedy in the barracks, his love for music enables him to criticise Nigerian women. His criticism, according to him, is to counsel the womenfolk, but he ends up overtly disparaging them with his vulgar languages. Words like bedmatics, sexiolology, among others are not found wanting in his comedies.
MC KIRIKIRI
His jokes are witty, but listeners not ready to compromise decorum for an hour of laughter might not find it as such.
The phrase ‘adult only’ also seems to be a recurring element whenever he is set to perform. Dirty jokes that cause the innocent ones to lose their innocence is his stock in trade; yet, everybody laughs whenever he cracks them.