Comedian Bright Okpocha, better known by his stage name as Basketmouth, has considered the passing of some of his closest loved ones, including his parents, older brother, friend Ogologo, singer Sound Sultan, and director Kayode Peters.
The comedian captured the moment in a video from a performance at Laugh Factory that was uploaded to Instagram on Wednesday.
Speaking to the crowd, Basketmouth discussed the effects of the losses and how going to Kayode Peters’ funeral in Toronto, Canada, altered his outlook on life and death.
Cracking a joke, he said, “I’ve lost a lot of people in recent times. Then I lost my mom, my dad, my eldest brother, then a friend of mine who happens to be my henchman, my driver, my bouncer in one person, Ogologo. You’ve heard that song with Wande Coal that Idid where they said, money long like Ogologo. That’s the guy he was singing about.
“Not long after Sound Sultan died, then KP now died, you know. So it was a lot.
“So with KP’s own, I flew to Toronto, I flew to Toronto for the funeral. Walked in, they asked me to speak. I couldn’t because I knew I was gonna cry. And they said I should be one of the pallbearers.
“And at that moment, as we were walking towards the cemetery, it hit me, like this is my guy. Like we lived together. Life is fickle, you know? And you start realizing that, man, it’s just the favor of God that is keeping us alive.
“We got to the side, the cemetery, brought out the casket, dropped it on one board, then one machine now came, picked it up and lifted it and put into the ground. So they pressed the button and the casket was just going in.
“As I was standing right there, I looked around, looked at the cemetery, looked at all the things that was happening. And that was when it hit me that it was the first time that I was attending a funeral, all the while na burial I dey go.
“If you’re a Nigerian and you went… In short, in Nigeria na only burial we dey attend. Bro, if you see that cemetery, cemetery was so beautiful, to die go hungry you. If they bury you, you rest in peace. That is where you rest in peace. I knew at that moment that my guy was going to rest in peace.Nigerian cultural insights
“Because if you go those Nigerian cemetery, Atan cemetery, Atan, oh boy, as you’re walking into the cemetery, you will feel witches. The breeze of witches will just, and the smell of deaths embrace you. You go there, that cemetery that they put, they bury people on top people. You know now, overlapping.
“it’s only the cemetery abroad that they should be writing rest in peace. Because they are resting in peace. That Atan cemetery, they should not be writing rest in peace on those tombstones. They should just be writing, go well o, E go better, look road o, safe journey, na man you be.”
While this story is undeniably funny, it also highlights a sobering reality. The system abroad has everything meticulously put in place to ensure organization, efficiency, and support.
This contrast reminds us that, although humor can lighten our perspective, the underlying structure and processes are vital for creating a smooth and reliable experience in any environment.
