Bovi
{{Short description|Nigerian Comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name = Bovi Ugboma
| image =
Bovi.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Bovi in 2014
| pseudonym =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Isoko
| birth_name = Bovi Ugboma
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|09|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Benin City, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
|medium = {{hlist|Stand-up|film|television}}
|alma_mater = Delta State University
| years_active = 2007–present
|genre = {{hlist|Observational comedy|satire}}
|subject = {{hlist|Nigeria Culture|everyday life|popular culture|current events|Nigeria politics|marriage}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Kris Asimonye Ugboma|2009|}}
| children = 3
| parents =
| relatives =
| notable_works = {{ubl|Extended Family|The Bovi Ugboma Show|Bovi: Man on Fire}}
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
| module =
}}
Bovi Ugboma is a Nigerian stand-up comedian,{{cite web |url=http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment/comedy-bovi-says-hes-not-overnight-success |title=Comedy: Bovi says he's not an overnight success |date=17 February 2014 |work=SilverbirdsTV |author=SilverbirdsTV |accessdate=17 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226055644/http://silverbirdtv.com/entertainment/comedy-bovi-says-hes-not-overnight-success |archive-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=How I Was Almost Accused Of Theft By London Hotel Staff — Bovi |url=https://dailytrust.com/how-i-was-almost-accused-of-theft-by-london-hotel-staff-bovi |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}} actor,{{Cite web |date=2022-07-17 |title=Comedy is a form of therapy, not just entertainment, says Bovi |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/comedy-is-a-form-of-therapy-not-just-entertainment-says-bovi/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}} and writer. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like Bovi: Man on Fire across the globe.{{cite web |url=http://www.view.ng/bovi-tells-us-a-secret-a-revealing-birthday-message-for-richard-mofe-damijo/ |title=Bovi Tells Us A Secret + A Revealing Birthday Message For Richard Mofe Damijo |date=8 July 2014 |work=View Nigeria |author=View Nigeria |accessdate=23 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075025/https://view.ng/bovi-tells-us-a-secret-a-revealing-birthday-message-for-richard-mofe-damijo/ |archive-date=3 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Early life and education
Bovi Ugboma was born in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. He attended UNIBEN staff school for his primary education. In 1991, he was enrolled in Government College, Ughelli in Delta State. For disciplinary reasons and fear from his parents of his development as a youth, he was removed from boarding school and transferred to Edokpolor Grammar School in Benin City, where they lived. That move proved unproductive and he moved to his third secondary school, Boys Model Secondary School, Onicha Olona, an all boarding school. After completing his secondary education, he gained admission in Delta State University in 1998, where he studied Theatre Arts.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/comedian-bovi-ugboma-stages-man-fire-tonight |title=Comedian Bovi Ugboma Stages 'Man on Fire' tonight |date=10 March 2013 |work=Daily Times NG |author=Daily Times NG |accessdate=10 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419222751/http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/comedian-bovi-ugboma-stages-man-fire-tonight |archivedate=19 April 2013 }}
Comedy career
2007
Bovi began his career in April 2007,{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaldailyng.com/laff-line/big-boy-bovi|title=BIG BOY BOVI|date=14 February 2012|work=nationaldailyng|author=nationaldailyng|accessdate=14 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925024408/http://nationaldailyng.com/laff-line/big-boy-bovi|archivedate=25 September 2013}} starring in the sitcom Extended Family,{{cite web |url=http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/03/i-am-my-biggest-competition-bovi/ |title=I am my biggest competition – Bovi |date=13 March 2013 |work=dailyindependentnig |author=dailyindependentnig |accessdate=13 March 2013 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312054934/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/03/i-am-my-biggest-competition-bovi/ |archivedate=12 March 2013 }} which he also wrote and produced.{{cite web |url=http://www.modernghana.com/movie/26661/3/bovi-ugboma-denies-saying-he-is-richer-than-celebr.html |title= Bovi Ugboma Denies Saying He Is Richer Than Celebrities Who Are Endorsed |date=10 February 2014 |work=Modern Ghana |author=Modern Ghana |accessdate=10 February 2014}} The show was popular and fans loved it.{{Cite web |last=Okonofua |first=Odion |date=2021-05-13 |title=Buchi, Bovi and Basketmouth are the Bad, Baddo and Baddest of Nigerian comedy [Pulse Editor's Opinion] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/buchi-bovi-and-basketmouth-are-the-bad-baddo-and-baddest-of-nigerian-comedy/q503rt1 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}}
2008 - 2011
Bovi was an emerging force in comedy shows and events throughout Nigeria.{{cite web |url=http://africamagic.dstv.com/2013/03/12/the-bovi-ugboma-show/ |title=The Bovi Ugboma Show |date=12 March 2013 |work=Modern Ghana |author=Modern Ghana |accessdate=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226145412/http://africamagic.dstv.com/2013/03/12/the-bovi-ugboma-show/ |archive-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead }} he made his stand-up comedy debut in Nigeria's premiere comedy franchise, Night of a thousand laughs organized by Opa Williams.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-14 |title=How ‘A Night of Thousand Laughs’ died and resurrected — Opa Williams |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/how-a-night-of-thousand-laughs-died-and-resurrected-opa-williams/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}
2013 - 2014
Bovi's first stand-up special was held at Eko convention center.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-13 |title="Bovi Man On Fire" Final Edition Is Set To Be An Unforgettable Experience |url=https://t.guardian.ng/life/bovi-man-on-fire-final-edition-is-set-to-be-an-unforgettable-comedy-experience/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} He followed it up in 2014 with a sequel titled Bovi: Man on Fire, which featured performances by international music stars Ja Rule and Ashanti.{{Cite web |last=banah |first=namang |date=2014-10-16 |title=Bovi Man On Fire Ja Rule, Ashanti Rip The Stage [Photos] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/events/bovi-man-on-fire-ja-rule-ashanti-rip-the-stage-photos/txvphg9 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}} Bovi took the one-man special to several cities in the United States, London, Melbourne, Kyiv, Brisbane, Sydney, Moscow and Toronto.
2017
He went on a break for three years after the 2014 edition of the show, after the hiatus, the Man on Fire franchise returned to Lagos and it was the most successful yet. The fourth edition in Lagos held in April 2019 and Bovi said it is the last of the man on Fire franchise. He says his next special will go by another title. Bovi began a series titled Back To School in 2018 which he uploads in his YouTube channel. Bovi has worked alongside other Nigerian comedians such as I Go Dye, I Go Save, Basketmouth, Buchi, Odogwu, Okey Bakassi, Julius Agwu and many others.{{cite web |url=http://www.punchng.com/spice/local-entertainment/i-would-have-been-a-footballer-bovi/ |title=I would have been a footballer –Bovi |date=31 March 2013 |work=Punchng |author=Punchng |accessdate=31 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331044055/http://www.punchng.com/spice/local-entertainment/i-would-have-been-a-footballer-bovi/ |archivedate=31 March 2013 }}
2022
In July 2022, Bovi held his latest comedy special, Bovi- Naughty By Nature in Lagos{{Cite web |last=Ononose |first=Joshua |date=2022-07-19 |title=Bovi’s Naughty by Nature: A night of laughs, unparalleled music, and soul therapy |url=https://ynaija.com/bovis-naughty-by-nature-a-night-of-laughs-unparalleled-music-and-soul-therapy/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=YNaija |language=en-GB}} and it was sold out two days before the show.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=Chike, Asake thrill at Bovi’s ‘Naughty by Nature’ |url=https://punchng.com/chike-asake-thrill-at-bovis-naughty-by-nature/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}
Movies
= 2015–2018 =
Bovi premiered his first movie It's Her Day on 9 September 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/10/08/bovis-movie-premiere-its-her-day/|title=Bovi's Movie Premiere "It's Her Day"|date=7 October 2016|work=THISDAYLIVE|access-date=5 December 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Wedding Movie "It’s Her Day" starring Bovi, Adunni Ade, Toni Tones, Omoni Oboli & more Premieres on Friday September 9! {{!}} BellaNaija |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/09/wedding-movie-its-her-day-starring-bovi-adunni-ade-toni-tones-omoni-oboli-more-premieres-on-friday-september-9/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=www.bellanaija.com |language=en-US}} The movie grossed 55 million Naira in the Nigerian box office.{{Cite web |last=Ohwovoriole |first=Onome |date=2017-01-20 |title=Top 10 Nigerian Movies Gross Over N1 billion Naira in 2016 |url=https://nairametrics.com/2017/01/20/top-10-nigerian-movies-gross-over-n1-billion-naira-in-2016/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Nairametrics |language=en-US}} In 2016, he starred in the romantic comedy, 4-1-Love as the lead actor.{{Cite web |title=Bovi Earns Lead Role In Feature Movie, ‘4-1-Love’ |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2016/08/22/bovi-earns-lead-role-feature-movie-4-1-love/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Channels Television}}
In 2017, he was nominated for the AMVCA awards as the best actor in comedy; his third individual nomination since the inception of the AMVCA and the fourth from his works. The movie, though lacking in mainstream publicity, went on to have a decent run in the cinemas and grossed 55 million naira at the box office.{{Cite news |title=76', 93 days, top AMVCA nominations (Full nominee list) |language=en-US |work=Punch Newspapers |url=http://punchng.com/76-93-days-top-amvca-nominations/ |access-date=5 December 2017}}
= 2020 =
In 2020 he starred as a police officer in the remake of the Nollywood classic Nneka the Pretty Serpent.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-30 |title=Nneka: The pretty snake, an unrealized Nollywood classic remake |url=https://dailytrust.com/nneka-the-pretty-snake-an-unrealized-nollywood-classic-remake |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=‘Nneka, the Pretty Serpent’ Rises – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/02/08/nneka-the-pretty-serpent-rises/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}}
= 2021 =
He also wrote, co-produced and starred in his second film, My Village People.{{Cite web |last=BellaNaija.com |date=2021-06-10 |title="My Village People" premiered in Lagos with Bovi, Sophie Alakija, Rachel Oniga looking ? |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2021/06/my-village-people-lagos/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Nwogu|first=Precious|date=31 May 2021|title=Watch the official trailer for 'My Village People'|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/watch-the-official-trailer-for-my-village-people/h35pdsn|url-status=live|access-date=8 June 2021|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531153717/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/watch-the-official-trailer-for-my-village-people/h35pdsn |archive-date=31 May 2021 }} The film went on went on to join the list of 17 Nigerian films to gross100 million naira in the local box office.{{Cite web |title=Top 20 Films Report - 3rd-9th September 2021 - Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria |url=https://www.ceanigeria.com/box-office/248-top-20-films-report-3rd-9th-september-2021 |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=www.ceanigeria.com}}
Personal life
Bovi is married to Kris Asimonye Ugboma, and they have three children.{{Cite web |last=Owolawi |first=Taiwo |date=2020-09-19 |title=Comedian Bovi and wife celebrate 11th wedding anniversary with romantic photos |url=https://www.legit.ng/1367399-comedian-bovi-wife-celebrate-11th-wedding-anniversary-lovely-photos.html |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news. |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Its 11th anniversary for Bovi & Kris (pictures) - P.M. News |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/09/19/its-11-years-anniversary-for-bovi-kris-pictures/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-27 |title=Why I cannot marry a second wife – Bovi The Nation Newspaper |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-cannot-marry-a-second-wife-bovi/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Olusola |first=Oluwatobi |date=2021-09-18 |title=Comedian Bovi celebrates wife as she marks her birthday today |url=https://www.eelive.ng/comedian-bovi-celebrates-wife-as-she-marks-her-birthday-today/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=eelive |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Bovi's Wife Reveals How He Encouraged Her - AllNews Nigeria |url=https://allnews.ng/amp/news/bovis-wife-reveals-how-he-encouraged-her |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=allnews.ng}}
In January 2022, his wife underwent surgery after an episode of ectopic pregnancy, which ruptured one of her fallopian tubes.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=How I underwent surgery due to ectopic pregnancy – Comedian Bovi’s wife |url=https://punchng.com/how-i-underwent-surgery-due-to-ectopic-pregnancy-comedian-bovis-wife/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Comedian Bovi wife narrate how she undergo surgery afta ectopic pregnancy |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-60114178 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=BBC News Pidgin}}{{Cite web |last=Okonofua |first=Odion |date=2022-01-24 |title=Bovi's wife recounts how ectopic pregnancy ruptured in one of her tubes |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/bovis-wife-recounts-how-ectopic-pregnancy-ruptured-in-one-of-her-tubes/4zxmv0b |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}}
The two celebrated their 13th anniversary on 19 September 2022, with Bovi praising his wife for taming him and carrying his children for 27 months altogether.{{Cite web |title=Comedian Bovi, Wife Mark 13th Wedding Anniversary – Independent Newspaper Nigeria |url=https://independent.ng/comedian-bovi-wife-mark-13th-wedding-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=independent.ng}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-19 |title=Weapon of mass destruction, Bovi flatters wife on 13th anniversary The Nation Newspaper |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/weapon-of-mass-destruction-bovi-flatters-wife-on-13th-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |language=en-US}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Category !Result !Ref |
| 2021
|Most Popular Comedian |{{won}} |
| 2021
|AMVCA |Best Actor in a Comedy |{{Nominated}} |
| 2023
|Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Television Series |{{Nom}} |{{Cite web |title=Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |url=https://dstv-fe-africamagic-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/9/news/full-list-here-are-all-our-amvca-9-nominees/news |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | title=AMVCA 2023: Anikulapo Wins Overall Best Movie | website=Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station - Uplifting the People and Uniting the Nation | date=2023-05-21 | url=https://radionigeriaibadan.gov.ng/2023/05/21/amvca-2023-anikulapo-wins-overall-best-movie/ | access-date=2023-06-10}} |
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Films !Year !Title !Role !Ref |
| 2004
|Indecent girl |Hotel manager | |
| 2004
|Standing alone |Doctor |
| 2016
|4-1-Love |Osaze |
| 2016
|It’s Her Day |Victor Smith |
| 2018
|International Affairs |Segun | |
| 2020
|Nneka The Pretty Serpent |Inspector Dan |
| 2021
|My Village People |Prince |
| 2021
|Visa on Arrival |Francis | |
| 2022
|The Perfect Arrangement |Chidi |
| 2023
|Raised Apart |Bamidele / Ejiro | |
| class="wikitable"
|+TV sitcoms !Year !Title !Ref |
| 2007–2008
|Extended family |
| 2009–2010
|The Bovi Ugboma Show |
| class="wikitable"
|+Web series !Year !Title !Ref |
| 2018–2022
|Back To School |
| 2019–2022
|Banana Republic |
| 2021–present
|Visa On Arrival |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.twitter.com/officialbovi Twitter page]
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors
Category:Male actors from Delta State
Category:Nigerian male comedians
Category:Nigerian film directors
Category:Nigerian film producers
Category:Nigerian screenwriters
Category:Delta State University, Abraka alumni
Category:Nigerian male television actors
Category:Nigerian male film actors