Okey Bakassi has reflected on the impact of branding and the importance of choosing the right name in the entertainment industry.

In a discussion on the Honest Brunch podcast, the Nigerian comedian shared a cautionary tale about a comedian he once met who initially went by the name “AIA,” a name Bakassi felt would hold him back.

“I told him, you can’t be better than the original,” Bakassi recalled, referring to the popular character that his friend was unknowingly mimicking. “You have to choose your own identity before you blow. If you let them name you, you’ll always be second.”

Bakassi further explained that this comedian eventually took his advice and changed his name, eventually rising to fame and becoming a well-known figure in the comedy world.

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“He chose a name, and today, he’s a brand in the comedy business,” Bakassi shared. “If he had stuck with ‘AIA,’ he would have been stuck in someone else’s shadow.”

This advice isn’t limited to comedians. Bakassi also discussed how the choice of a stage name can make or break a career, referencing a situation where a friend in the comedy world faced a similar dilemma.

“He wanted to be called ‘Basket Mouth,’ but it wasn’t his name,” Bakassi explained. “He tried to add ‘MC’ to the name, but it didn’t work.”

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