Kelly Igberehi, popularly known as Kelly Blind is the Blind Comedian of the Federal Republic (BCFR). Born and brought up in Warri, Delta State, he attended Wesley Primary school in Sapele LGA of Delta State and Lukujebu Grammar School, when he lost his sight. The award winning comedian never gave up on himself even though he can not see. He was in Abuja recently with his manager on a promotional tour and Anthony Ada Abraham had the opportunity of discussing some vital issues with him. Excerpt:
Why choose comedy knowing that you have a disability?
The reason is that when I was young, I had this talent and you know, while in primary school, comedy started from jest yabbing. We make jest of each other and everything and then have the best jester, you know. So during that time, I discovered that I do the jest thing well so I decided on pursuing it further because I was very funny and people always wanted me to know that I am very funny. So they said “why can’t you go into TV or radio, the way Basket Mouth and Ali Baba are doing it? Just try and do this thing, you can do better, you know.” That was how I got the courage and started believing that I could do something.
So you lost your sight when you were in secondary school?
Yes, Kelly Blind was not born blind. It was in my early secondary school years, while in the class that I discovered I could not see the blackboard clearly; I would go close to the blackboard while others sat, just so I could write. One day, my teacher called me and said I was? disturbing other people so if you know you’re blind, just tell your father to take you to the hospital and get you glasses. I discover you can not see very well, you are blind. That was when I went back home and told my parents that I can no longer see the blackboard very well and from then, my parents took me to hospital in Warri. The doctor told me we had to have operation but we can’t do it in Warri. So he referred us to Enugu or Kaduna where they have eye specialists. We went to the hospital in Enugu. We went to Niger Opticals where the doctor agreed to perform the operation, but stressed that my gaining my sight was a 50/50 chance, there was no guarantee, I may see or not see again and since it was so serious, my dad gave his consent. So he tried the left eye, but did not succeed. So my dad told the doctor to leave the other one, so we started going to churches for a miracle, just so I can see again.
So now that you are in the system, I mean a comedian cum entertainer, what exactly do you intend to bring into the industry?
You know if you are coming into the industry today, you need to package yourself, it is not something you just jump into. It is something you have to do constantly. Your fans are always there waiting to hear new things every time you are on stage. You really need to go back home to think again and again to come up with something good for them. You know like Kelly Blind is coming out with this TV programme tagged The K. Blind Show. A programme that Nigerians would not want to miss because it comes with a different concept. There will be? different things that have never been seen and I intend to introduce different things. It is just a 30-minute show which I believe will ease people’s stress.
So apart from entertainment what else do you do?
Apart from entertainment, I went through School for the Blind, Centre for the Blind, Ikeja Lagos, where I studied Music. So I also do music and other things like craft. I also know how to play instruments like the piano and others.
So that means you sing too?
Yes, that is what I’m saying. I sing and I am a song writer too by the grace of God. In fact, I am a full time entertainer. There is nothing I can not do.
So what should we expect from you?
Nigerians should expect a lot from Kelly Blind because I am coming to Abuja to make a big bang in the industry. For the first time I will be introducing blind football for Nigerians. I am telling you this, it is not a joke. We have started it. As I talk to you, we have teams training for the blind football. I want Nigerians to know that there is the need to encourage people like us. I? tell people that disability is a thing of the mind. You see, if they give us the opportunity, we will do well and if you look at the industry you will see that the physically challenged in it are doing well. For example the likes of Cobhams, I must tell you he is the highest paid Nigerian producer today. He is blind but doing well, and there are so many others that are not yet discovered. I was given this opportunity by AY; otherwise nobody would have known Kelly Blind. Also I want to go out there and discover other people like me that have passion for entertainment. I want to bring them to the limelight.
So we are appealing to the government to support this project because it is not a one-man project. Putting together a TV show is not an easy task, you have to get your camera, and you need mobility, especially when you have an external show. You need funds to move these things from one place to the other, to discover the talented physically challenged people whereever they are, get to know what they want and then take them from place to place. So we need support. We are appealing to all the ministries in Nigeria to come and support Kelly Blind, especially the Ministry of Women affairs.
The minister should know that it is her responsibility to support the K. Blind show. The Ministry of Niger-Delta should also know, because my plan is to set up an entertainment show for all the physically challenged people in the Niger-Delta area. I tell you, when you go to the Niger-Delta there is no single school for the blind, it is really drawing us back. Most of us from that area are only able to succeed because our parents took us to schools in Lagos. So there are still many physically challenged people in the creeks living as if they are not humans with no hope in sight. Their parents even hide because they don’t know where to take them; it is really pitiful and we all have to wake up to stop the discrimination so that the future will be bright for all of us.
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