Nigerian comedian and actor, Bovi, has opened up about the difficult period following the death of his mother in January 2016, revealing how he continued performing despite battling intense grief.
Bovi shared the experience during an appearance on the Nancy Isime Show, where he was asked if he had ever performed while dealing with a deeply painful personal experience.
He recalled that his mother died in January 2016, just weeks before businessman and politician Ben Bruce’s 60th birthday celebration, where he had been booked to host.
“When she passed in 2016, she passed in January, and in February, Ben Bruce was having his 60th birthday, and they wanted me to host. So I was conflicted. Do I do this?” he recalled.
According to Bovi, he questioned whether returning to work so soon after his mother’s death would make him appear insensitive.
“Am I insensitive for working when the person who gave birth to me is no more?” he asked himself.
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Despite his reservations, the comedian went ahead with the engagement and performed his duties while privately struggling with grief.
“I would get on stage, do my part, do my bit. I was hosting, and people were laughing, and they didn’t even know I was dying inside,” he said.
Bovi also recalled another painful experience in 2012, when his mother was kidnapped while he was in Ilashe, Lagos, attending an event.
“So in 2012, my mom was kidnapped, I was called, but I was in Ilashe doing an event,” he said.
He explained that after receiving the news, he made several calls to try to address the situation but still had to return to the event and continue entertaining guests.
“I made a few calls. ‘MC, we need you now.’ Ran back, continued working, doing the event,” Bovi recalled.
Although he remained on stage, Bovi said his mind and emotions were elsewhere.
“I was just going through the motions, and people were laughing, but my soul wasn’t there. My mind wasn’t there,” he said.
His mother was eventually rescued hours later.
Reflecting on both experiences, Bovi said he had learned to continue fulfilling his professional responsibilities even during some of the most painful moments of his life.