By Rita Okoye

Date of performance: 26 September 2021

Venue: Terra Kulture Arena, Lagos, Nigeria

In As I Was Saying, Nigerian comedian Efe WarriBoy returned to the stage with an unfiltered, unapologetically transactional philosophy: “I have sold my conscience to the highest bidder.” It wasn’t just a throwaway punchline — it became a brilliantly layered routine that sliced through the intersections of comedy, gratitude, loyalty, and cold, hard cash.

Performed at the iconic Terra Kulture, Lagos’ cultural heart for theatre and contemporary performance, Efe’s special took the packed 400-seat venue through a full hour of comic storytelling that explored how mentorship, money, and merit are often entangled in ways that comedians rarely admit out loud — let alone lampoon.

The standout segment centred on two of Nigeria’s biggest comedic exports: Bovi and Basketmouth. With surgical comic timing and biting satire, Efe broke down how each of these industry giants had helped shape his career — and, more importantly to him, had paid him generously. First, he praised Bovi as the “greatest comedian alive” for putting him in a film, featuring him on YouTube’s Back 2 School, and booking him on the major Nigerian stage Rhythm Unplugged — all while ensuring he was well compensated. His admiration, he confessed, was proportionate to the bank alerts.

But the comedic twist landed like a punchline grenade. When Basketmouth later took him on a UK tour, paying him in British pounds, Efe revealed he converted the payment to Nigerian Naira and realised he’d earned more in one tour than from all of Bovi’s gigs combined. The result? Bovi’s name was unceremoniously struck off the list, and Basketmouth was crowned the new king. “I don’t even think Bovi is a stand-up anymore,” he deadpanned — drawing a loud gasp, followed by rolling laughter from the Lagos crowd.

Efe’s strength is in his boldness to mock the industry from within, exposing how comedians and audiences alike are swayed by hierarchy, opportunity, and ego. His tone teetered between irreverent and incisive, and his storytelling was rich with inflection, timing, and cultural insight. Beneath the absurdist humour lay a very real commentary on how success in the creative industries often hinges not just on talent, but on who’s willing to invest in your journey.

The show also featured live music from Seun Kuti and Harrysongz, giving the night a celebratory, cross-genre energy. But it was Efe who held the spotlight — navigating satire, honesty, and performance ego with a steady hand and seasoned presence.

With As I Was Saying, Efe WarriBoy proved he’s not just a sharp comic voice — he’s a cultural commentator with bite, whose comedy crosses borders as easily as currencies.

In a scene flooded with recycled punchlines, Efe offers something braver: self-aware comedy that entertains while exposing the machinery behind the mic.