For close to twenty years, Nigerian comedians AY Makun and Basketmouth lived a silent, cold, brewing feud that kept them off stages and spaces. Since 2006, fans and industry players saw two top comedians who never got too close, their names being linked with rumors of rivalry rather than causing laughter. But in a rare, candid conversation on the “Glass House” podcast, the two comedians were forthcoming about their path from hate to healing, illuminating how their decade-long feud took its costs on their lives, their circle of contacts, and even their audiences.
Both comedians say the roots of their feud are a little unclear, even to them. A minor disagreement that mushroomed into a chasm, lasting 17 long years, finally appears to have widened. AY spoke about the years of avoiding each other and how the feud saw some consequences that were not intended.
The split did not have only impacts on them but trickled down to friends and fans alike. “We were providers for people,” he reflected on how their divide inadvertently affected those around them.
Being the witty one, Basketmouth gave an insight into the culture of “taking sides” that drove the feud. He spoke about people in their circle compelled to show loyalty, even when that meant creating friction where none was supposed to exist. Now, with the reconciliation, he said he felt some sort of closure, some relief, embracing a new mindset of collaboration over competition.
