Long before the internet became an endless distraction, when phones were simply for calling and texting, I’d spend my weekend afternoons watching all the sitcoms. The standout one was flatmates. I was new in Lagos, a journey I had embarked on without my parents’ permission, driven by the blind fate of my burning desire to be an entertainer. After enjoying flatmates, I’d watch the end credits, and that’s how I noticed Kayode Peters. Attached to his name was the title of creator and writer. But something else caught my attention. The executive producer was El-shaddai.
When I’d later get to meet KP, as he was fondly called, I realised he was so humble that he refused to give himself the credit of being executive producer. Looking back now, that wasn’t humility. It was a deep heart of gratitude. Something that served as a reminder for him that it was all God. It was his way of saying thank you.
Flatmates heavily influenced my decision and courage to start my own show, Extended Family. That’s why in the extended family, I opted not to put my name as executive producer in the credits. I was so scared that I might be seen as proud because KP didn’t take his credits. Why should I?
But our relationship had a rocky start. I had searched for KP’s number and put a call through. “My name is Bovi, and I’m a fan of your show. I’m creating my sitcom and I’d like to meet you to get some tips on how to go about it”, I had said to KP in our first ever call. “I’m on set working now. I wouldn’t have the time”. “It can be during your lunch break if you don’t mind. I promise not to take your time”, I pressed. He said he’d let me know when he has the time. The time never came. I also never waited. I pushed on and created the show. At the time, my only motivation for doing things was the fear of being perceived as offensive. I had felt slighted that he turned down the request of a stranger, so I bore an artificial grudge and used it as fuel!
A year later, in 2008, I had a lucid conversation with Joy Elumelu, one of the actors on Kp’s sitcom “Half Sisters.” I told her of my not-so-pleasant phone call with KP. She was miffed and said
“KP is not like that”. She’d go on without my knowledge and consent to confront KP. When she told me she did, I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. It was in that moment I realised that I had made up that grudge with my negative patterns.Why was I, all of a sudden, worried that he had heard my complaint? The conversation was true, but he really owed me nothing. Neither was he rude about it.
The following year, 2009, Kp started a comedy club in City Mall called Friday Night Laughs. I went with Ogus Baba, my girlfriend Kris and my brother Zino. Ogus Baba, knowing me, warned beforehand.
“Bovi, we are comedians. We can’t pay to enter this show. Just let me handle it”. I nervously agreed. At the gate, they asked for our tickets and Ogus swung into action.
He refused to budge, causing a delay as we prevented others from entering. Then, KP approached the gate. Our eyes met briefly. He stylishly inquired from one of his staff, said something and went back inside. Then the staff said, “You guys can go inside, but these two will have to pay”. I quickly paid for my brother and my girlfriend, and we went in and sat.
The show started well, but it got to a point and there was dead air. The remaining scheduled acts were running late. I could read the body language of the organisers. They couldn’t approach me. Then Kp’s friend (I think it was Biola Aloba) approached me and pleaded with me to get on stage. I was like, “Well, they made me pay for my family, so I can’t”.
He appealed further, and it didn’t take long before I agreed. Deep down, I didn’t mind. I got on stage and ripped the crowd. It was so explosive, my brother got up and started screaming praises to God in Isoko. It was hilarious.
After my performance, Kp walked up to me, shook my hand, thanked me and apologized for turning down my first-ever request. I tried to keep my chip on my shoulder, but it fell off. I was finally meeting KP in person. The man whose show made me courageous to do mine, and the man whose comedy club had given me a stage to test out new material. That year, I went to Friday night laughs every month to test new materials. I promised myself I was not going to ever repeat materials on that stage and that’s how it helped me become very monstrous in my approach. Yes, Kp’s stage gave me a breeding ground.
Around 2011, we became teammates in football. We would meet up every Friday night to play five-a-side. This was when I really got close enough to KP to know his innate being; gentle, peaceful, kind and caring. He never screamed, hardly cussed, always forgave. He was the only one like that. The remaining twenty-something of us were an untamed bunch. This included one of Kp’s closest friends and namesake, Kayode Krakue, a screaming, angry bully who somehow became charming and amiable once every game night was over.
One time, I got into a physical dialogue 102 with a teammate. When they managed to tear us apart, I abandoned the game and went to the shower. Next thing I know, this teammate comes in to take an early shower too. In my nakedness, I am contemplating going a second round; the fear of one of us having a concussion because of the tiles is racing through my head. Then KP runs in with his football boots still on, meaning he was still playing. I asked what he was doing there dressed like that, and he said he just wanted to make sure we were having our showers peacefully. Kp sat there until I got out.
When KP got married, I was privileged to be there. At the naming ceremony of his kids, I was also privileged to be there. One time, he called me to play a bit part in one of his projects. I ran down to the set at speed. I considered it an honour to be on his project, even though at the time I was already a household name.
Our wives became good friends. Me and Kp didn’t spend a lot of time together. But the few times were quality; either playing football or playing Pro Evolution Soccer and later FIFA at Buchi’s. When I heard KP passed, I was sad, but 154 the relief I felt after a while was that I told KP while he was alive how he influenced me and thanked him for it—also thanked him for coming to sit in the bathroom. I gave KP his flowers.
I’d hear “bovite” or “bovilante” in a crowd and I’d just know he was the one. He was the only one who called me by those aliases. Looking back now, I see it didn’t take much. It was in the little things. Kp was and is an influencer. I’m sad he left too soon. But I’m grateful for all he gave the world, including me. And I’m grateful that I shared the same birthday with him, too. It was fun while we made those calls to each other every September 25th morning.
