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Entertainment of Friday, 10 January 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

I am a good actor, not a yahoo boy - Lasisi Elenu

Lasisi Elenu Lasisi Elenu

Popular Nigerian comedian, Lasisi Elenu, has responded to allegations claiming that he must be an internet fraudster (popularly called Yahoo boy) after a skit where he portrayed a yahoo boy character - ‘Sinzu’ went viral on social media yesterday.

The skit tagged “Life of a G Boy” was widely accepted by fans with commendations that he perfectly nailed the character but some comments and reactions alleging that Lasisi must have been a Yahoo Boy before or is still one, would not go unnoticed.

However, in an exclusive interview with MyNigeria.com, the comedian said that those comments mean he is a good actor.

Lasisi stressed the point that he is not a Yahoo boy as opposed to the claims on the internet adding that it is a “compliment” for people to say that he “nailed the act” rather than a disturbance.

He said, “It is not something bothering or disturbing when people say such a thing; ‘for you to nail this act so well, he probably was one …’ I don’t think it’s disturbing, to me that compliments me, it just tells you that I probably did a great job. If I were to do a "Nike" series where I was talking like a Zaddy (Sugar daddy), people would say how come you talk so well, do you have a girl somewhere who you spend or lavish money on like this for you to know how these men talk or If I were to make an impression of a student debating people will still have that same reaction."

Lasisi also revealed that he was a bit puzzled by some people’s reactions to Sinzu’s behavior as they could clearly relate to the way yahoo boys behave.

"It’s funny because everyone says you nailed it but then my question is does this mean everyone is either a Yahoo boy for them to say that you nailed it. So, it just tells you that it is something that is highly relatable with everybody to say it’s spot on or I nailed it. It just tells you that for everybody to have an idea, it means that everyone is exposed to that lifestyle one way or another; either they saw it on TV or they know someone who knows someone that did this or they assume that’s how they sound. It is a mental thing and even people who don’t live in Nigeria will tell you they can relate; I wonder how can they relate. So it just tells you that one way or another, people have been exposed to that somehow.”

In addition to that, he said that the reactions confirm that he is a master at making impressions.

He said, “I think when it comes to making impressions I think I have a keen and strong passion for that, making impressions of different people, cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, I think it’s something I have picked up over the years and I tend to do it with ease.”

The comedian was also quick to distance himself from any assumptions that his characters refer to any celebrity or someone that he knows. He said his characters are sometimes “fictional”.

“It is just like saying my ‘Nike’ name has anything to do with a girl that was once sleeping with a married man. No, these names are just names, some are fictional and some are names I feel will suit the character most. So it has nothing to do with anybody, it’s just a name that I decided to give to this character, that’s all, the name just sounds funny to me and I figured it will sound interesting to people who are watching, so that is it, I just look out for names that are going to interest the listeners and viewers, that is all,” Lasisi said.

Lasisi had a good year career-wise in 2019 and is optimistic of better things to come in the year 2020 with more shows and movies to come.

“Not bad! It started well. Things are still trying to unfold but it is still January, so, the peak of things haven’t really happened yet. I am just moving as it comes,” he said.