In the wake of the rise in digital content distribution, youths in Edo State have taken to digital media platforms to leverage music and comedy to propagate their talent, harness millions of followers and earn a decent economy within the new digital economy.
This submission was made by Lawrence Osarenkhoe, popularly known as Mc Casino, during a chat with journalists, in Benin City.
The comedian is host of the yearly Game of Jokes, one of the many comedy and entertainment shows that is now a regular feature in Benin City, which is fast becoming a hub for short video production and skit-making.
A number of the shows are held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Sound Stage, a facility established by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to support entertainment and the creative sector.
The self-styled social commentator and critic, Osarenkhoe noted that youths in Edo State turned to comedy and digital content production owing to a rich and vibrant entertainment culture, which has I Go Die, I Go Save, Gandoki and Basketmouth as its earlier exports.
According to Osarenkhoe: “I have just returned from a show in Italy that was sold out. People didn’t get spaces but they all wanted to be there. They wanted to hear me speak for hours. That is how powerful our cultural product has become.”
He noted that he has held shows in more than six European cities and even more Nigerian cities aside Benin, noting that the digital streaming has created a viable business for youths in Edo to excel.
He dismissed insinuations that skit-makers and content producers are involved in fraud, noting that they are involved in legitimate enterprise which pays handsomely.
