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Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, known professionally asAli Baba, is aNigerian stand-up comedian, master of ceremonies^[1] and actor.

Ali Baba was born in Agbarha otor,Delta State, Nigeria on 24 June 1965,^[2] to the royal family of Agbarha Otor. He is the first son of several children and spent his first 8 years in Warri, Delta State. His father is a retired soldier who served inLagos.

He attended Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos State, and Ibru College Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. He attended Bendel State University (nowAmbrose Alli University),Ekpoma and graduated with a degree in Religious Studies & Philosophy.He was neighbour toPastor Chris Oyakhilome while at school in university.^[3]

After completing his academic degree in 1990, he relocated back toLagos,^[4] to develop his comedy talent he discovered at the university. Originally, he planned to study Law but decided he could be more successful by making people laugh than by defending them.

He began his professional career performing at corporate events, appearing on television shows withPatrick Doyle,Charly Boy, and Danladi Bako, and making cameo appearances on radio shows with Bisi Olatilo, Sani Irabor, and Mani Onumonmu.^[5] He also worked withPrince Adedapo Benjamin Adelegan of DP Lekki Limited as executive assistant in 1991.

In 2014, Ali Baba started an annual comedy event called the 1 January concert.^[6] Comedians come up to review the events of the previous year and a first-class graduate from the preceding year receives an award.^[7]

In 2015, he started an event called Spontaneity; a quarterly event for budding comedians.^[8] Notable among the finalists of this competition isWoli Arole at the 2016 edition.^[9]

Ali Baba maintains the philosophy that his business is big enough for all who want to make comedy their chosen profession. As such, he supports, mentors, and presents several comedians helping to ensure that standards are maintained, and professionalism encouraged.^[10]

Ali Baba was inducted into theJohnnie Walker 'Striding Man' Society in 2009 which recognizes men who have achieved great strides in their chosen fields and who motivate and encourage others^[11]

In 2012, he rang the Year End Closing Bell of theNigerian Stock Exchange, the first Nigerian comedian to do so.

He is a Special Marshal of theFederal Road Safety Corps.

In March 2015, Ali Baba was featured onCNN African voices, speaking about his goal to professionalize and gain acceptance for Nigerian comedians.^[12]

In April 2018, Ali Baba received the Paul Harris Fellowship byRotary International for his contribution to the Nigerian Comedy industry

Ali Baba is married to Mary Akpobome.^[13]

• My Guy (1998)
• The Last 3 Digits (2014)^{[14][15][16][17]}
• Head Gone (2014)
• The Wedding Party (2016)
• Alakada (2017)
• Gold Statue (2019) as Mr. Manuel
• The Man for the Job (2022) as Lai

• List of Nigerian comedians

• Xclusive Features on Ali Baba and other Nigerian comedians

• Living people
• 1965 births
• Nigerian male comedians
• Ambrose Alli University alumni
• Nigerian television personalities
• Nigerian male film actors
• Male actors from Warri
• 21st-century Nigerian male actors
• Actors from Delta State
• Nigerian stand-up comedians

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• Short description is different from Wikidata
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