Kenny Blaq

Kenny Blaq
Born
Otolorin Kehinde Peter

(1992-09-30) September 30, 1992
EducationFederal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training School, Ikeja, Lagos
Years active2008–present
Websitekennyblaq.com

Otolorin Kehinde Peter, performing as Kenny Blaq, is a Nigerian stand-up comedian and singer.[1][2][3] He performed at the 2nd edition of Unlock Naija Independence celebration[4][5] and Africa Magic Owambe Finale.[6]

Early life

Kenny Blaq completed his primary and secondary education in Ejigbo, Lagos. He left SS3 to attend a tutorial centre where he sat his [[West African Senior School Certificate Examination|WASSCE]] examination after his parents were unable to meet the school fees.[7]

He trained as a compere and presenter at the [[Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria|FRCN]] training school in Lagos, having previously worked with SMA FM, a college community-based radio station.[8][9]

Career

Blaq started his comedy career in 2008,[10] and has performed at comedy events within and outside Nigeria including I Laff with Mc Abbey, Gbenga Adeyinka (Laffmattaz), Ali Baba's January 1st Concert, Mc Amana's (DiSpeakable Me), Cool FM Praise JAM, DAREY's Love Like A Movie, AY LIVE, Basketmouth's Lord of the Ribs,[11] Africa Laughs (Uganda), SEKA Live (Rwanda), ECOFEST (Sierra Leone) and Benin Glo Laffta Fest (Nigeria).[12]

His self-titled comedy concert The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq won Best Comedy Show at the 2017 and 2018 Naija 102.3 FM Comedy Awards during its three-year run.[13][14][15][16][17]

Blaq's first internationally headlined event was staged at the Indigo O2 on 30 September 2018, titled Kenny Blaq: State of Mind, in partnership with SMADE, a UK-based international show promoter.[18][19] He subsequently appeared as a headliner at the Indaba X: The Laughing Leopard comedy event at Royal Festival Hall.[20][21][22]

Blaq was listed in 2018 among the 100 most influential youths in Africa, after receiving The Future Awards Africa prize for comedy in 2017.[23] In 2020, he received the Ooni Youth Royal Award.[24][25]

In 2020, Blaq began a nationwide tour, starting at Federal University of Technology Owerri in Imo State and continuing to [[Obafemi Awolowo University]] in Ile-Ife. The tour was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A concert at the Obafemi Awolowo University Amphitheatre was reported to have been attended by over 5,000 people.[26] The tour concluded in December in Abuja.[27] In 2021, Blaq undertook a 12-city tour of the United Kingdom with promoter Akinlolu Jenkins.[28]

On 17 November 2021, a comedy special recorded by Blaq in Lagos debuted on Netflix, described as the first comedy production by a Nigeria-based comedian to be featured on the platform.[29][30][31]

Awards

YearAwardsCategories
2015Naija FM Comedy Awards[32]Upcoming Comedian of the Year
2016 MEAMA Awards[32]Best Comedy Act, Nigeria
Naija FM Comedy Awards[13]Best Comedian of The Year
2017 The Future Awards Africa[33][34]Comedy
Naija FM Comedy Awards[13]Best Comedy Show

Comedian of The Year

2018 Naija FM Comedy Awards[14]Comedian of the Year
Best Comedy Show
Most Fashionable Comedian
2019 Naija FM Comedy Awards Most Fashionable Comedian
MAYA Awards Comedian of The Year (Stand Up)
2021 Humor Awards Best Music Comedian

References

  1. ↑ Olonilua, Ademola (6 January 2018). "Finding true love is really tough as a star –Kenny Blaq". The Punch. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Choosing between music, comedy was hard – Kenny Blaq". The Punch. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Nigerian comedians can sell out 02 arena - Kenny Blaq The Nation Newspaper". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Nwafor (11 October 2022). "Kaffy, Denrele, Kenny Blaq, others grace Tobems media unlock naija". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "Kenny Blaq, Toyin Lawani, others headline Tobems media's Unlock Naija". BusinessDay. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Online, Tribune (1 August 2020). "Kenny Blaq and Laolu Gbenjo to perform at Africa Magic owambe finale". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Before Stardom With... Kenny Blaq". The Punch. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Comedy's next big thing in Nigeria, Kenny Blaq". Pulse Nigeria. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "Meet Kenny Blaq: Biography, Age, Education, Family, And Career". koko.ng. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "About Him". Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Comedian delivers an incredible night of comedy in London". Pulse Nigeria. 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Acapella, Kenny Blaq on fire at Benin Glo Laffta Fest". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 Augoye, Jayne (20 June 2018). "Kenny Blaq returns with 'Oxymoron II' comedy show". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Sola Sobowale, Kenny Blaq, other win big at Naija FM Comedy Awards". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  15. ↑ Online, Tribune (21 June 2019). "Music meets comedy: The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq billed for 'Third term'". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq". This Day. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Kenny Blaq returns with second edition of 'Oxymoron' comedy show". TheCable. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  18. ↑ O2, The. "Kenny Blaq – 'State of Mind' Comedy Show | The O2". www.theo2.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Willie, Akwaowo (24 September 2018). "'Kenny Blaq State of Mind' To Hold At O2 Arena, UK • Connect Nigeria". Connect Nigeria. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  20. ↑ "The Laughing Leopard". IndabaX. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  21. ↑ "137451 The Laughing Leopard 2019". Southbank Centre. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  22. ↑ "Eve, Talib Kweli Added to Africa Utopia at Southbank Centre Lineup". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  23. ↑ Dzokpo, Ike. "List of 2018 100 Most Influential Young Africans". Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  24. ↑ "Sujimoto receives royal award from Ooni of Ife". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  25. ↑ Rapheal (19 January 2020). "Osun commissioner, Assembly Chief Whip make list of top African young leaders". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  26. ↑ "Kenny Blaq State of Mind Tour". Inside OAU Media. 23 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "Kenny Blaq State of Mind - Abuja Invasion". 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  28. ↑ "Kenny Blaq Hails Akinlolu Jekins, Others for the Success of His UK Tour". This Day. 11 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "Kenny Blaq's first comedy special to hit Netflix November 17". Pulse Nigeria. 5 November 2021.
  30. ↑ "Kenny Blaq blazes the trail with first Netflix comedy show". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "First-ever Nigerian music-comedy set to debut on Netflix". Premium Times. 15 November 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Kenny Blaq Signed As Tromville's Brand Ambassador". 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  33. ↑ "The Future Awards Africa 2017: Full List Of Winners". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  34. ↑ "TFAA 2017 Winners List".
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