By Ayo Onikoyi

Not all childhood fantasies become a reality. At least, this is a fact that rings true for content creator and skits maker known as Funnychef, born Ben Oyas Perekpo from Bayelsa State.

Sharing his story with this platform, the skits maker says, “My dream career was to become a legal practitioner, so as to advocate for the masses and fight against ill treatment in the social space. Presently, I’m advocating for that through some of the contents I create.”

However, Funnychef says he fell in love with acting along the way as the allure of the make-believe world captivated him beyond control. To see himself doing what some characters do in Nollywood became an obsession.

“I grew up watching Nollywood movies, most especially comedies featuring the likes of the late Sam Loco Efe , Victor Osuagwu and Charles Inojie. But at an early stage I didn’t have the wherewithal to give my passion any form of expression.

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“As an entertainer, if you don’t have money to follow up with the business you would fall out when others are still moving. Nothing substantial happened until my friends and I came up with the idea of having our own team with the name Sirbalo Comedy. Honestly speaking, we started shooting our skits with blackberry phones because we didn’t have money for cameras then, but God has been faithful,” he narrates.

Ben Oyas Perekpo , who is the first child in a family of six coined out “Funnychef as a stage name because of his love for food.

When asked if he has any regrets regarding the career path he has found himself, the comedian was affirmative in his response.

““Skits-making changed my life and I’m so happy I’m living my dream. I cannot consider ever going back to being a legal practitioner even though I harbour the thoughts of advocating for the masses regarding their rights. But skit-making has been a blessing to me. It has given me money, fame and recognition.”

Funnychef is a Bayelsa man but schooled in Burutu in Delta State where he had his primary and secondary education.

Vanguard Newspaper