By Ayo Onikoyi

Popular comedian and master of ceremonies, Chimaraph, has warned that social media visibility should not be mistaken for professional competence, arguing that looking good and posting performance videos do not automatically make someone a good MC.

Chimaraph made this known on Conversations With Kenni, while reflecting on the changing dynamics of the Nigerian MC industry and how social media has influenced the way entertainers secure major bookings.

“The inception of social media has changed how the industry works. Now, you can just wear a fine suit, look really good, and start getting some of the biggest gigs from knowing somebody that knows somebody. Just post some good videos and be in the right cliques, and before you know it, you’re getting some of the biggest gigs even if you cannot deliver well,” he said.

The comedian said his own development was shaped by mentorship and apprenticeship, recalling how he learnt the profession by following veteran MC Pato to events and observing how he handled different situations before he was allowed to take the microphone.

“When we started, we had to actually learn the basics. We started by shadowing someone who was already doing it to learn from them. The mentor I learnt from is MC Pato and I remember I’d follow him to events sometimes and he’ll tell me to just sit down and watch him. There was a time to just observe and he wouldn’t give me the mic, but nowadays if you don’t give them mic at an event you take them to, they’ll see you as an enemy,” he said.

Chimaraph also recalled mentoring a young performer who was initially expected to observe his performances but eventually became eager to get behind the microphone.

“There was a guy who I was mentoring recently and because of making videos on social media, I asked him to help me make videos of my performances while he was following me and also observe the way I handle the ups and downs of events, and it got to a point that he started looking for a microphone by all means,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that the digital age has made overnight success possible, noting that patience remains important even in an era where entertainers can suddenly gain global recognition.

“I understand that we live in a fast-paced world where everyone wants to make money overnight. You hear quotes like ‘hunger has killed the patient dog.’ When you look at some of these bastardized quotes, the original ones weren’t all that correct to begin with, but it doesn’t mean that some of them aren’t correct. Like the patient dog eating the fattest bone, I think it came from the need to tell people to be patient with life till things work out. It doesn’t have to be overnight, but in today’s world, you can sleep, wake up, and become a global sensation,” he said.