Basketmouth Biography: Early Life, Career, Movies, Awards, Wife & Net Worth
Bright Okpocha (born September 14, 1978), often known by the stage name Basketmouth, is a Nigerian comedian and actor. He has organised popular stand-up comedy concerts around the world, including Basketmouth Uncensored.
Basketmouth organised a comedy competition on Instagram dubbed the #TwoThingsChallenge, which provoked outrage among fans after a young admirer shared a video of him uttering obscene things about sex with a toddler in near view. He was a producer for “Ghana Jollof”.
Basketmouth Biography
Basketmouth, a well-known Nigerian comedian, was born in Lagos State on September 14, 1978. He is a native of Abia State, Nigeria. His mother, Felicia Okpocha, raised him, and his father was Mr Okpocha.
He has two siblings: Lenora Okpocha and Godwin Okpocha. Basketmouth attended the elite University of Benin in Edo State after finishing his primary and high school education in Apapa, Lagos.
There, he studied sociology and anthropology, establishing the groundwork for his future success in the entertainment sector.
Career
Basketmouth’s comedy career began in 1995 when he was discovered by artist 2baba, who invited him to perform at his monthly concert at The Den in Ikeja due to his impressive talent.
Tequila Events recognised Basketmouth’s potential and invited him to join Julius Agwu on their Play It Safe Tour in 2000, where they delighted students at over 30 major higher education institutions in Nigeria. This opportunity allowed him to demonstrate his comic abilities and solidify his presence in the Nigerian entertainment business.
Basketmouth’s career has taken off tremendously. His talent and hard work have earned him numerous important prizes, including the National Comedy Award.
In both 2005 and 2006, he was crowned Best Stand-Up Comedian of the Year. He has performed at several notable locations, including the Comedy Store, the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada, and the Comedy Central Special.
In addition to stand-up comedy, Basketmouth has been in a number of films and television shows. His big film performances include The Wedding Party and The Johnsons, and he has had recurring roles in popular television shows such as My Flatmates and Basketmouth Uncensored.
Basketmouth serves as an ambassador for several companies, including Glo, Malta Guinness, KIA Motors, Sure Bet, and Ping Express. He has also formed the Basketmouth Foundation to provide educational help and scholarships to underprivileged children.
In 2014, he established a musical company called Barons World Entertainment. In November 2020, he released the highlife album ‘Yabasi’ as the soundtrack for the film ‘Papa Benji’. Freeme Music, a Nigerian indigenous musical company, released the album, which featured musicians such as Ladipoe, BOJ, The Cavemen, Bez, Waje, Duncan Mighty, Flavour, and Phyno.
In 2022, he released the album Horoscope, which has guest appearances from Johnny Drille, Simi, M.I. Abaga, Buju, Peruzzi, Oxlade, Reekado Banks, Falz, Magnito, Illbliss, Dremo, and Flavour.
In May and December 2022, he produced music for Nigerian artists Aṣa and Adekunle Gold through his Barons World Entertainment label. Basketmouth has revealed that his third studio album, Uburu, will be released in October 2023.
Appearances
- Basketmouth starred in the 2000 Lagbaja music video “Gra Gra.”
- Basketmouth won the National Comedy Award as well as the Best Stand-up Comedian of the Year accolades in 2005 and 2006. He was nominated for the 2021 inaugural edition of The Humour Awards Academy alongside fellow comedian Mr Funny.
- Basketmouth is included in the Africa Magic show “My Flatmates” (2016).
- Basketmouth recently entertained Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola at his house.
- In December 2020, he launched his online comic series “Papa Benji”.
Awards & Nominations
- 2005, 2006 National Comedy Award for Best Comedian of the Year
- 2007 City People Awards for Best Comedian of the Year
- 2008 Nigeria Entertainment Award for Comedian of the Year
- 2010 MTN Lagos Comedy Nite for Best Comedian
- 2011 Elvis Award for Best Comedian
- 2013 Afrimma Award for Best Comedian
- 2014 The Future Awards Africa for Comedy
- 2021 The Humour Awards Academy for Best Comedian
Basketmouth and wife
Basketmouth married his beloved partner Elsie Uzoma Okpocha in November 2010, following a long and passionate relationship. The couple has two gorgeous children, Jason Okpocha and Janelle Okpocha.
However, in December 2022, Basketmouth unexpectedly announced on his official Instagram account that he and his wife had decided to break their marriage, bringing an end to their twelve-year adventure together.
Basketmouth Net Worth
Basketmouth’s net worth is reported to be $3 million, derived from comedy shows, television appearances, endorsements, and musical collaborations. As one of Nigeria’s highest-paid comedians, he has been invited to perform at several international comedy festivals.
Social Media
Instagram: @basketmouth
