Introducing Mimosa; The New Face Of Comedy

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” ― Maya Angelou. 

Peks Ikeji is a new face in Nigeria's blossoming comedy industry and he goes by the fierce stage name, Mimosa. 

In this quick interview with Austinaija, he talks about the challenges he has faced in the industry so far, the recycling of jokes and of course growing up with Nigeria's biggest blogger Linda Ikeji and his other sisters. Mimosa is one to definitely watch out for

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• Good day Mimosa, tell us a little about growing up
My growing up was very okay. I grew up with girls and it was fun. As the only boy, my Mum always wanted to lock me at home. I was a shy dude. I started comedy this year as I wanted to go into acting before

• You are quite new in the comedy industry, what have been your greatest challenges in the industry thus far?
The challenges we have in the industry is that if you are new, it will be hard to get comedy shows. It is even harder than music. If you repeat same jokes, people will just tell you to leave the stage.
I remember the first time I spoke to MC Shakara about performing in his show. He told me that he will like to see me perform for him first and when I did, he was impressed. One of the challenges you face as a comedian is, people would not want to hear you if you are not well known.
I also remember when I spoke to Funny Bone, he told me to be strong and just do my thing well.

• Your performance at the Shakara and Gang comedy show penultimate Sunday was very credible. What do you think of that performance personally?
Yea my performance was very okay, I did my best and the truth is that I was very prepared for the show. I was just having fun and my jokes came naturally.

Mimosa Chilling with Sean Tizzle

• Which comedians (foreign and locally) inspire you to keep chasing your dreams?
The foreign Comedian is Kelvin Hart. Locally, I will say Basket Mouth and Okey Bakassi

• One issue some top comedians like Bovi have been vocal about is the recycling of their original jokes by other comedians at recorded gigs. Mimosa, what do you think about the recycling of other people’s jokes at recorded performances?
People say comedians recycle jokes. Yea, it is true. You wan laugh and you no want make another person laugh?

• How original are your jokes and how do you plan to stay fresh and wow your audience each time?
Laughs... My jokes are everyday things, it comes naturally and I don't recycle my jokes, I will rather mix them.

• Do you think being a brother to Africa’s biggest blogger; Linda Ikeji has made your sojourn into the comedy world any less difficult?
Linda Ikeji is my blood sister and to tell you the truth, her name has really helped me kind off in the entertainment industry

• What inspires the stage name, ‘Mimosa’?
I got the name Mimosa from my Dad years back.

• I hear you got some tattoos recently, what do your tattoos say, how much did they cost and where did you get inked?
I have a tattoo and it reads Mimosa. It is small and nice. I am not a tattoo person, I just did it because I saw a lot of people getting tattoos while in the USA. It cost me just 150 Dollars only.

• Being new in the industry, what has been your most embarrassing comedy moment so far?
I don't think I have had any embarrassing moment on stage and I pray not to.

• How do you wind up after a hectic day on stage?
If I am not working, I just seat in my house and sometimes i hangout with my friends

• What comes next for Mimosa?
I have a show on the 26th of this month and I can't wait to kill it on stage again!

Austinaija wishes Mimosa all the best in his young but bright comedy career