In this episode of OnPeople, we have a conversation with Michael Sani, better known as MC Lively, one of Nigeria's most recognisable comedy voices. From his humble beginnings as a church altar server who discovered his gift for making people laugh at age seven, to creating the iconic "Agidi" character that made millions laugh on Instagram, MC Lively opens up about the raw, unfiltered journey of building a comedy career from scratch.
He shares how his law background (and a degree he earned "by the skin of his teeth") shaped his perspective, the pivotal moment at OAU's Odudua Hall that proved he could make people laugh on a large scale, and why law school in Yenagoa became his "last hurrah" to prove whether he was truly funny. He also gets vulnerable about running away from home to pursue comedy full-time, choosing instability over the safety net of legal practice, and watching lawyers earn less than what he made hosting a few events.
But the conversation goes deeper, MC Lively reflects on the struggle of staying relatable while evolving, the pressure to keep playing the same character that made you famous, and how losing his brother changed everything. He opens up about the exhaustion of being typecast, the loneliness of trying to express new dimensions of his talent while people kept asking for "Agidi," and what it means to keep finding new forms of expression even when the old ones made you successful.
If you're an artist wrestling with evolution vs. expectation, building a creative career with no roadmap, or simply believe that your gift deserves full expression — this conversation is for you.
———
Visit www.thepeoplepractice.io/
Follow us on:
X: x.com/ThePeoplePract
Instagram: instagram.com/thepeoplepractice.io
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-people-practice-africa