Hogan’s journey to the pinnacle of comedy

He became known after 1013 and 1014 Laughs for his rib cracking jokes and comical gestures. Despite the bitter pills life gave him as a child, the lanky and stylish Nigerian comedian who lives in Ghana has scaled the hurdles of life. He is not only making a name for himself, but doing his country proud. In this interview, Gabriel Hogan (his real name) opens up on how his career began and where he hopes to go. 

So what was growing up like?

Growing up?  I was born with a silver spoon but at the age of nine, I lost it to a fight (laughs). I was born to a single mother, so I had to grow up with different parents.  Growing up with mum was sweet and interesting, but with dad it was tough.

After high school I had to begin to fend for my self.  I gained admission into the university on three different occasions, but there was no money to go to school. I thank God for my uncles who kept telling me to keep fighting and never allow the bitterness of life get to me.

In 2005, I got eventually got into Lagos State University to read Computer Science. And I must confess that school life was tough…so growing up was really difficult, but I thank God I pulled through.

How did comedy begin for you?

I didn’t know I was going to be a comedian till I came to Ghana in 2010 to visit my cousin. At that time there was a comedy auditioning taking place somewhere in Accra and my cousin insisted that I go for it.   I objected to his idea, but he insisted that I had the talent; as a teenager I had always been a jester.

Even as an actor back in Nigeria, (he is a trained actor) the roles I always played were comical. I found my self playing the role of a jester, even though I am a very shy person; I even had a problem with crowd whenever we had to do stage plays.

With no single joke in mind, but I remember I used to love Clint the Drunk as a young chap, I decided to act like a drunk. My first presentation wasn’t that funny, but by the second time I mounted the stage, I cracked the ribs of every one that that was in the hall. It was at that point that comedy began for me. I realized I could make people laugh without being a comic character in a movie.

So how did you nurture your talent?

I was doing comedy in church, wedding receptions and parties for leisure. However when I began to enjoy my ability to make people laugh I realized that I had to create a niche and brand for myself. So I had to stop acting like Clint the Drunk and just be me. I worked on myself and began to create my own jokes.

In January, 2011 I got my first paid show; it was a fashion show at the American Embassy where I was paid GH¢20; I felt fulfilled, not because the money was huge to me at that time, but because I was paid for what I enjoyed doing.

Interestingly, at that very show, I got an invitation to Tarkwa in the Western Region for a valentine show as the headline comedian. I was paid a really huge sum of money. My first interview on radio came out of that show. That was when I knew where I was going to and decided to face comedy fully and build my brand.

What was your first major break?

It was on the first season of Laughter Express in February 2011. In May that same year, they called me again for the second season of the show and that I think was my major break. I was on billboards with Seyi Law and Clint the Drunk and all TV commercials for that show. It felt good seeing my self in TV commercials and billboards with the best comedians in Africa all over the country.

So in actual fact you made a name in comedy here in Ghana

Yes ooo…I can’t shout… (speaks the Nigerian way)

And how does that feel?

 It feels good. The fact that I have worked with most of the big names from Nigeria here in Ghana, it tells me that I have been a good ambassador for my country.

What challenges have you faced in the show biz industry?

Comedians are not appreciated the way they should. It’s quite frustrating.  I get the impression that comedy is not thought of as a profession. A musician is thought of more highly than a comedian in Ghana. I dey vex…(speaks Nigerian Pidgin)

Are you saying that Ghanaians have not fully embraced comedy as a culture?

Yes, I will say that, because comedy is a big industry not only in Nigeria where I come from, but in America, South Africa, Britain and so on. When I began my career, I was told to be careful because Ghanaians do not like to be picked on, I found that very restricting; because I have seen America’s Kelvin Hart pick on almost every celebrity in America.

 Chris Rock picks on presidents and the big wigs; yet people laugh over it . They understand that it is purely entertainment.  But here in Ghana, people take things personal. I have been on a stage and a girl nearly attacked me because I cracked a joke about women loving money…I believe that if comedy is seen purely as entertainment in Ghana, it will boost the industry. I have heard people say that Ghanaians are not funny; I don’t believe that, it is the restriction that has been placed on comedy.

Do think you can survive this hurdle?

Yes I can, especially with God on my side. Because I do not attribute my success to my self or my ability to make people laugh, I am who I am today of my father in heaven. However I am working really hard to make Ghanaians embrace comedy as a culture, because laughter is the best medicine anyone can get in life.

How are you working towards that?

I am planning my own comedy shows. Currently I am putting together a comedy club where comedians in Ghanaians will come crack jokes and make people laugh. We are kicking of on Wednesday, September 4, at Aphrodisiac Nite Club by 7pm. It is called “Nite of Comedy with Hogan”.

It's going to happen twice every month; the first and last Wednesday of the month. I am inviting everybody. The daily hustle and bustle in life sends people to their early graves. Today you hear of young people dying of high blood pressure, when I was a kid, such a disease was for old men and women, but today, that’s not the case… we need to make out time for laughter and get the stress off. Come join us at Aphrodisiac every first and last Wednesday of the month and take that stress off you. Do I sound too serious?(laughs)

So what inspires your joke apart from picking on people?

First of all, God inspires me more, because I get a lot of jokes even in my dreams. Then the things I see, the people around me, even in animals and the trends in our society.

Apart from comedy what else do you?

I am also an actor; while in the university I gained scholarship to study acting. That was where acting began for me. I have featured in a couple of series, I look forward to featuring in block buster movies...i am into music also, in actual fact I am  a funny rapper( laughs) , Last year I did a song ‘Ghana vrs Naija Rivalry with DKB, former Ghana representative to Big Brother.. I am a complete entertainer  

So what’s your favorite Ghanaian dish?

Light soup and fufu with goat meat

Are you married?

No I’m not, why this question, do you want to fast forward my life? (laughs)

Are you dating anyone?

I am not… you are asking me the same question (laughing out loud) or do you want to give me your sister to date?

You must have a lot of female admirers, how come you claim to be single?

I have a lot of female admirers quite alright but I smile in return when they smile at me, and when I try getting serious with them, they take it to be a joke. “I hear things like, Hogan you have started with this your joke.”

What kind of woman are you looking out for?

She must be beautiful, enterprising, have the fear of God, and also know the difference between my jokes and when I am serious. Above all she must be a good cook.

So what is your message to the youth about going through tough times?

Keep going through it. If you don’t burn you don’t know how it feels to be burned. If you do not serve you cannot lead.  Refuse to be a victim of your environment, be a king anywhere you find yourself. Believe in your dreams, because it’s just the road to success. The road to success is rough and narrow only the strong can make it and I thank God am one of them.