Buchi, Bovi and Basketmouth are the Bad, Baddo and Baddest of Nigerian comedy

It is safe to say these trio are the modern day masters of the comedy business in Nigeria.

Basketmouth, Bovi and Buchi are unarguably the biggest comedians in Nigeria.

I bet anyone to argue or just put their money where their mouth is about these guys. Everything about their style and the manner in which they have grown over the years needs to be studied in the 'Business School of Comedy.'

Now let's take it back to the beginning, from the first time I saw Basketmouth on stage during the popular 'Nite of Thousand Laughs' organised by Opa WIlliams in the late 1990s, I knew he was going to be one of the biggest in the country.

Basket Mouth Comedy Show (Kiss) | Nite Of A Thousand Laughs | African Standup Comedy

At that time we already had Ali Baba as the king of comedy but there was something youthful and organic about Basketmouth that just oozed every time he climbed the stage.

Nigerian veteran comedian Alibaba [Instagram/AlibabaAddicts]

Interestingly, during a chat with Pulse, Basketmouth revealed that after an epic fail on stage while rapping and dragging the crowd for 30 minutes, he decided to watch Ali Baba and learn from the master of the game.

Pulse One on One: Basketmouth talks about his switch from music to comedy and 'Yabasi'

It didn't take time before he became a household name across the country.

He may have been popular in your circle but Bovi first blew my mind and that of many when he starred as 'Onoriode' in the hit TV drama series 'Extended Family' in 2007. He made us laugh so much we couldn't for the next episode.

Extended Family Episode 1[4th Quarter] (Bovi Ugboma)

There was just something fascinating about Bovi and it took just a few years, sold-out concerts for everyone to know what he was made of.

Bovi and his billionaire friends (Stand up Comedy)

I personally watched Buchi grow back in the university. I'm not that old, when Buchi was in his fifth year studying Law at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, I was a Jambite.

Buchi had on several occasions held the largest hall in that uni for hours with rib-cracking jokes. He had a partner in crime (Ochuko) and together they would organise comedy shows on campus.

Buchi aka Barrister Ogbus of Flat Mates on Flight Mode Live at Pencil Unbroken Abuja Showdown

These guys have used their intelligence and hard work to create a formidable force to reckon with in the comedy business.

Why do they stand out?

Buchi, Bovi and Basketmouth [Instagram/Bovi] [Instagram/Basketmouth]

Maybe it's the fact that they all schooled and grew up in Benin City or Edo State at some point in their lives. Or maybe it's the fact they are the most eloquent and spontaneous comedians we have in Nigeria.

www.instagram.com

Maybe Bovi reads the crowd before he comes on stage. Maybe Basketmouth probably drags some greens...walks to the stage and just starts with the guy wearing a funny shirt. Maybe Buchi already watched the last performer and understood where to start from.

One thing is certain, they are the yardstick used to measure what stand-up comedy is in Nigeria. If any Nigerian comedian can stand with the likes of Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and the others, it will be these three friends.

www.instagram.com

With the emergence of social media, they have been able to blend in, win over millions of followers and still counting. No wonder a visit to their Instagram pages gives you a delight of what creativity is all about.

www.instagram.com

Bovi writes and captions his daily lifestyle and activities like a storyteller. Basketmouth creates content every other day like he stole a box of ideas from Quincy Jones' house. For Buchi, he is probably the funniest guy you want to watch on TV (No offense to icons like Nkem Owoh and Charles Inogie).

www.instagram.com

Basketmouth recently took fans back memory lane to his first love, music, when he released a project 'Yabasi' which featured the likes of Duncan Mighty, Ice Prince, Oxlade, Show Dem Camp, Flavour, Phyno, Perruzzi, iLL Bliss, Waje, Bez, The Cavemen, etc.

For those who are lovers of YouTube comedy, they will never forget in a hurry, Bovi's 'Back To School' series. It was so good, it had three seasons.

www.instagram.com

For the last five years, Buchi has remained the reason so many people watch the Africa Magic TV series 'Flatmates.'

www.instagram.com

Falz says he is the Bahd, Olamide is called Baddo while Davido will always scream that he is the Baddest...facts only.

However, in the business of comedy, Buchi is the Bahd guy, Bovi comes clean as the Baddo while Basketmouth remains the Baddest.