I have decided to give the caption of this piece “Ambassador Wahala, take it personal” because knowing the kind of personality this comedian is, he will not forgive me in a hurry for penning down this.
may not sound familiar to many reading this piece but i will take you a little bit down memory lane.The name “Ambassador Wahala”
Do you still remember the former first lady Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan? Do you remember her golden voice that usually keep you rolling with laughter each time she speaks? Then you will remember that comedian who became famous by mimicking her. He became more famous during the first edition of “Alibaba January 1st” at the prestigious Eko-hotels where the wife of former Lagos State governor and other prestigious guest were in attendance.
It may surprise you to know that this A-list Abuja comedian has become a regular face in Amala joints. I was walking along Ademola Adetunbo crescent in Wuse 2 and saw a caption that caught my attention.
On the banner of the new Amala joint, the caption reads “Come eat Amala with Amb. Wahala”; the inquisitive journalism nature in me made me to take a closer look to be sure it was not a case of mistaken identity.
In the history of entertainment industry in Abuja, no entertainer has received any mega endorsement from multinational companies or any kind of endorsement except Chucks D General and Big_mo of wazobia FM who were recently branded as Mama Cass Ambassadors in Abuja unlike Lagos where stars keep getting one form of salary endorsement or the other.
It is very disappointing to note that the next to be a branded Ambassador in Abuja today is the almighty Amb. Wahala, and guess the multinational company that endorsed him “Mama Ashabi Kitchen” an amala joint in Abuja.
But wait o, I thought packaging is number one in everything we do mostly in the entertainment industry? Now, can Seyi-Law, Shakara, Gordons or even a small Short-cut in Abuja allow their footages to be used on such? Considering the nitch Amb. Wahala has caved for himself in the Entertainment industry, is his brand not too big to be messed up on a mere banner of mama-put as popularly called where a plate of food is sold for #300? Is it because he’s yoruba that he couldn’t resist the name “amala”?
The question begging for an answer here is, If I am his fan, will I pay N5,000 to watch him perform in any show after going to Mama Ashabi to watch him disgrace himself eating amala in the typical yoruba way as he originally is?
I ask the famous comedian to take it personal because I am very disappointed in him for stooping so low after investing so much in the industry and would be disrespected by many who won’t talk in his presence but behind him. I heard from somewhere before I eventually saw the much talked banner, a fan castigated Abuja entertainers for lack of packaging.
I wish you well though but believe me, I believe in your dream that’s why I could pick up my pen with bitter heart to write this piece, I could call you on phone or see you in person and register my displeasure but I want the world to hear us and know that I respect your hustle and would do anything to support you anyway I can, I urge you to brace up, re-strategize and hit back hard for more to be happy to identify with your brand.
Amb. Wahala, Take it personal and package yourself.
