Hold up, fam. You thought this was going to be another debate about who’s king of Nigerian comedy? Think again. Brace yourselves—because we’ve got an all-out comedy war happening right now, and it’s between two titans of Nigerian humor: Ali Baba and Gbenga Adebayo. Forget your dull celebrity gossip or the “who’s dating who” nonsense, this is the real meat and potatoes of the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Grab your popcorn and let’s dive in.

Ali Baba – The Godfather Who Paved The Way (But Was He Too Early?)

Let’s give credit where credit is due: Ali Baba is the OG. The trailblazer of Nigerian comedy. The man who made it cool to talk about the everyday struggles of life and somehow still made you laugh until you couldn’t breathe. His style? A masterclass in the art of storytelling—think of it as a 3-hour Netflix series without a skip button.

But here’s the thing: Ali Baba laid the foundation. He was the guy who stood in front of the mic in the early days and made everyone go, “Yo, I can do this too.” And no one can take that away from him. But as great as he is, did he really bring the crazy character work that we see today? The one that makes you want to fall off your chair laughing?

This is where Gbenga Adebayo comes into the picture.

Round Two: Gbenga Adebayo – The New Kid Who Took Your Mom’s TV and Never Gave It Back

Gbenga Adeboye, aka Funwontan, is the modern-day wizard of Nigerian comedy. The guy doesn’t just tell jokes—he becomes the joke. He’s a walking Netflix show that only gets better with time. Gbenga redefined what we thought comedy was in Nigeria—shifting from the old-school “stand-up-and-tell-a-story” vibes to straight-up character immersion.

Remember his insane roles as a pastor? The dude made even choir members nervous. Imagine hearing that character’s voice in your head every time you get near a church.

And Twitter’s been going crazy over this. One savage tweet said, “Ali Baba can never deliver characters the way Gbenga Adeboye did.” I mean, it’s savage… but is it wrong though? The streets are talking, and they’re saying Gbenga had more range than Ali Baba in the character department.

The Hot Take: Gbenga Adeboye did it first. His crazy, fictional characters laid the foundation for everyone Ali Baba included to come and tell stories about Nigerian life. Without Funwontan’s influence, who would even be cracking the juju jokes on social media today?

Round Three: The Great ‘Who Ran This P’ Debate—It’s Like the Beatles vs. Rolling Stones

Even though we’ll never see them face-off on stage in a formal way, both of these legends have changed the game forever. Ali Baba will always be the one who made comedy a career, and Gbenga Adebayo will be remembered as the guy who added flavor, innovation, and multi-layered brilliance to Nigerian comedy.

The Plot Twist: Who Wins, Really?

Here’s the thing, though: Both Ali Baba and Gbenga Adeboye are legends. But let’s face it, this isn’t just about laughing anymore. It’s about legacy, evolution, and who can make you drop your drink because you were laughing so hard.

The internet is already divided, with some die-hard fans claiming, “Ali Baba did it first,” while others go full savage mode with, “Gbenga is the true king, sorry Ali.” In fact, Ali Baba himself, in one of his rare humble moments, was like, “Gbenga is the one who really shaped what we do today.” Ouch, right?

The big question remains—if you had to choose, who’s really the GOAT? Can we just call it a tie and appreciate them for creating the hilarious empire that Nigerian comedy is today? Or do we throw them in the ring for one more epic stand-up showdown where we let them battle it out for the title?

And Now For the Real Question – Can We Get a Comedy Collab Already?

Imagine this: Ali Baba and Gbenga Adebayo teaming up for a comedy special. I’m talking about a Netflix special where they roast everything from politicians to our crazy traffic jams. You’ve got the Godfather of Nigerian comedy bringing the classic jokes, and then Funwontan drops in with a wild character you never saw coming. It would be pure gold—and I would definitely buy the entire season’s worth of popcorn to watch that.

In conclusion: Who’s better? That’s for YOU to decide. But I’ll leave you with this—both of these men made us laugh in ways we’ll never forget, and there’s no one more influential than these two in Nigerian comedy. So, whether you’re team Ali or Gbenga, just know this: Nigerian comedy wouldn’t be the same without them.