Plus-sized comedian, Bose Osayemi a.k.a.Lepacious Bose, abandoned the sobriety of the law profession for the irreverent world of showbiz. Today, she is proud of the decision and many had seen it as a misadventure. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, she speaks about her career and why stand-up comedy should never cross the decency border.

You have an imposing stature combined with lots of wit. Would you say these are your unique selling points?

I don’t know if they are unique but that is just me.

Have you got into any trouble with your jokes?

No. I don’t insult people; I crack jokes about myself because that is the easiest way to stay out of trouble. I don’t like it when people are used as comedy materials. I consider such jokes as being unfair to people who paid to have fun. There is no point making people feel bad for coming out of their homes to patronize joke merchants.

When you make fun of yourself; you have nothing to lose. It is just a simple logic; if someone makes fun of me, I will feel offended but if I abuse myself, I won’t be. It is easier for me to make jokes around myself. I don’tinsult people with my jokes and that is a standard rule for me. There is no way someone will come and say I insulted him or her. I don’t do it in the middle of the joke or end my jokes with such. There is more to comedy than insulting people and don’t forget that I am also a Christian and my Christianity has to do with building up people’s self-confidence and not tearing people down.

In other words; you get offended when people make jokes around your person?

Those who make jokes about me don’t make it when I am there and those who make it when I am not present are not my friends.

But TejuBabyface made a joke about your stature when he featured you in his skit?

Teju is my friend and it is something that both of us in the past have joked about, so it is not a big deal. I can’t even call that a joke. There are things people will say that will be an insult to you rather than a compliment. Don’t also forget that there is a very thin line between jokes and insults.

Do people take you seriously at all?

The truth is that I am a very serious-minded person off stage. I make sure people do take me serious.

How do you apply your training as a lawyer to your career as a comedian?

Lawyers are too serious-minded people. My training as a lawyer has never failed to give me the needed confidence and boldness to confront any situation that arises. Law requires intensive thinking and so lawyers don’t really have time for comedy.

Most of your colleagues now have different comedy brands and TV shows. Are you also thinking in thatdirection?

I don’t do things because people do it neither do I have to imitate people. I am an inventor and when the right time comes, I will definitely come up with something good. God has brought me this far. Despite not having my own show, He is taking me far.

I don’t do things because people are doing it; I do things because I am persuaded about it. I will like to have my own show but I will like to ensure that I am not doing what others are doing because at the end of the day, they will all look alike. Most of the shows on TV are of the same concept and storyline. I am working on something unique.

Your delivery is captivating enough to endear you to fans, how did this evolve?

I don’t know how I came about it. In Nigeria, there is no school of comedy and neither do we have any formal institution of comedy training. This is something I stumbled upon and it has being a wonderful experience so far.

I understand you were not this big before, do you intend to shed some weight?

I think that is my business because I own the body and I am the one that controls the body. That again is not your business. Will you in any way benefit from my weight? The bottom-line is that I am big and very healthy. Will my weight affect your life in anyway? I have the right to my body.

Are you getting married anytime soon?

Once you bring the husband I will marry. I promise you that I will marry the man immediately you bring me the husband.

Were you over-pampered as the last child of your parents?

My parents were teachers so they were so strict and they never indulged me. We were very academic while growing up; we read novels and newspapers more than we went out to social functions.

You are one of the very few female humorists who have been able to create a niche in the industry; what are some of the challenges militating against the emergence of more female comedians?

I grew up around boys and my best friends are guys. I am more relaxed around guys so I have never really had any issue about gender inequality.

I never experienced that. Though I want more female comedians, I realized that most of us are not ready to go that extra mile. We don’t have problem with our male colleagues rather, the society places high premium on male comedians than we, their female counterparts. Our male colleagues are very fantastic and they at times go out of their way to promote us. I don’t know why any seasoning brand will select a man as their brand ambassador?

Very soon, manufacturers of sanitary towels will use men as their brand ambassadors.

Could you tell us about your first experience as a professional comedian?

I can’t really remember that. Some of my colleagues celebrate their anniversaries but I can’t commemorate my anniversary because I don’t know when I started. I just started and before I knew it, it had become a career. It is unfortunate I don’t have a record like most people but my very first performance I can really remember was at the University of Ibadan where I was paid N200. My first 10 minutes on stage that day was so scary.

What has happened to your events managementbusiness?

I don’t do that anymore.

What happened?

Lepacious is a very big and known brand. There are too many insults associated with the business.You can imagine an event in which the caterer comes late and Lepacious is the event planner? I am sure you know the insults will be too much for my brand. It is something I still have a passion for but I cherish the Lepacious brand too much to be subjected to such destruction. When my friends are getting married, I am always on the top of the planning. I don’t see myself sleeping in a bride’s sitting room just to make-up the bride. It will get to a time when people will think that you are broke not knowing that you have passion for it. Some will even think comedy is not financially-rewarding to you. One thing comedy has done for me is that even when you are hungry you work with your headshigh. I remember the last catering job I did professionally, I did the catering and the bride didn’t pay up. Eventually I decided I won’t serve the food until she paid my balance. She came to beg me while others interfered. The bride who now has about three children is yet to pay my balance. When I wasn’t Lepacious Bose, I would have insisted they pay me otherwise, I won’t serve the food.

Aside comedy, what else do you do?

I just graduated from a Bible school and I am presently planning to go back to school for my Masters. I do some things I won’t want to discuss on the pages of the papers.