Nigerian Comedians and Comediennes

Full Name: Ayodeji Richard Makun.
Stage Name: A.Y
Date of Birth: August 19, 1971.
Place of Birth: Warri, Delta State.
Nationality: Nigerian
Alma mater: Delta State University, Abraka
Marital Status: Married
Spouse(s): Mabel Makun .
Occupation: Comedian/Actor.
Twitter: @aycomedian
Instagram: @aycomedian

Early Life

He was the first Male child from a family of seven from Ifon, Ondo state, AY was born and bred in Delta State. He had a very humble and unassuming start, parlaying his charm and talent to a successful career in the Nigerian comedy scene.

He gained fame through impersonating Rev. Chris Okotie in his hilarious jokes, and by 2006, when he began; he was named the Best Up-Coming Comedian in Nigeria.That wasn’t AY’s first award. The gifted comedian holds an enviable record of being the first student to direct a convocation production in the history of the Theatre Arts Department of the Delta State University, where he graduated in 2003.

In his campus days, he received many awards including: The Most Fashionable Student on Campus (1999 and 2000); The Most Celebrated Student on Campus (2001), Best Showbiz Promoter (2001), Jaycee Club Socio-Cultural Personality Award (2003), and The Most Celebrated Theatre Arts Student (2003).

Presently, AY has taken comedy out of the box. He writes the column, Going AY-Wire every Friday on The Sun Newspapers, (Nigeria’s most circulated National Daily) and every month he writes Jokes Apart in Gbenga Adeyinka’s monthly comedy journal, Laffmatazz. He presents The AY Live on The Morning Drive every Friday from 6am to 10am on Rhythm 93.7 FM, Lagos.

Career And Life

Ayo Makun came into spotlight after being Alibaba Akporobome's personal assistant and event manager. A.Y also wrote going "A.Y wire" as a guest columnist in The Sun (Nigeria)and Gbenga Adeyinka's "laugh mattaz".
AY has become the ‘father’ of many upcoming acts and established acts that are doing well in the industry, through the monthly AY’s Open Mic Challenge that holds every third Sunday, at The National Theatre, Lagos.

The AY Show, arguably the best Comedy Show on Nigeria TV, shows on AYTV which airs daily on HITV across the country, and all over Europe winning BEST TV COMEDY SHOW in 2008, and has since been a must watch. He publishes Nigeria’s first comedy magazine, and he hosts (across the country, too) the usually out-sold comedy and music concerts AY Live.

Twice, AY Live has broken and set enviable record standards in comedy events in Nigeria. In 2007, he held Lagos spell bound when the second edition of AY Live, Lagos Invasion drew a record crowd forcing him to do two shows instead of one, as planned. Two years later, similar feat was reenacted in Nigeria’s Federal Capital City, when AY Live, Abuja Invasion stood Abuja still, and becoming Abuja’s most attended entertainment events, ever.

AY was awarded UN Peace Ambassador in 2009 after winning six different awards in 2008, all confirming one same thing: "COMEDIAN OF YEAR"
Ayo Makun directs and acts in one of Nigeria's popular sitcom, AY's cribwith Alex Ekubo, Venita Akpofure, Buchi Franklin and Justice Nuagbe. He also hosts one of Africa's largest comedy shows, AY live featuring other comedians like Bovi, Helen Pauland many other comedians. Ayo Makun is also, the Chief Executive Officer for Corporate World entertainment, Nigeria. He also owns one of the biggest and most comfortable Club houses in Nigeria. An investor in stand-up comedy as he has influenced upcoming comedians through his AY "Open Mic Challenge"

He married Mabel in 2008 and they are blessed with a daughter, Michelle.

In 2014 A.Y wrote and produced a movie titled "30 days in Atlanta" movie which before released has got many Nigerians attention.. Shot in the U.S and also got many nominations before release.AY's YouTube page was said to have been the most viewed comedian channel on YouTube..

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

Awards
2008
*.Comedian of the year: Diamond Awards for Comedy
*.Comedian of the year: Teens Favorite
*.Comedian of the year: MBG Abuja Merit Awards
*.Comedian of the year: National Daily Awards
*.Comedian of the year: Arsenal Award for Excellence
*.Comedian of the year: Mode Men of the year Awards

2009
*.U.N Peace Ambassador

2010
*.Comedian of the year: Nigerian Entertainment Awards [ 6 ]

2013
*.Most creative Entrepreneur of the year, (comedy category) :C.E.A.N

ENDORSEMENTS
AY got a multimillion naira endorsement deal with Haven Homes as their brand ambassador which was said to be worth 60million naira in 2011