Gbenga Adeyinka has this routine where he mounts the stage and says hello in countless languages. He has done it many times but those who love his comedy, and they are many hence his numerous MC engagements, lap it all up each and every time. He is not faking it, as the comedian who has been a radio and television presenter, actor and writer, speaks many of these languages fluently.
Born on May 7, 1968 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, he studied English at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he was involved with a group known as Theatre 15 and also hosted campus events. It was therefore a no-brainer that he would start a company in entertainment upon graduation. But first, he had to try his hands at a 9 to 5 job, which didn’t quite work out.
But he admitted in an interview that it was the realisation early in the day that he could get paid for his jokes that drew him into comedy. In fact, his mantra back then when he set out was that he had finished with “counting books, it was now time to count money” to translate directly from the Yoruba language. But he had to wok hard at it, even do many a free show before people started to recognize his brand and pay him for it value. He is today one of the biggest comedians Nigeria has ever known as has been counting money for a long time.
Popular as Comedian of the Federal Republic (CFR) or Grand Comedian of Nigeria (GCON), he is married with three children. The one and only ‘shine shine bobo’ is the publisher of the comedy magazine Laffmattazz. His base is in Lagos. He is a Lagos big boy.
Bet you didn’t know that he worked in his uncle’s engineering firm after he graduated from UNILAG