He`s one of the nation`s fast rising comedians but
in his case, he doesn’t peg himself as just a comedian, he prides himself as a
complete entertainer, a comic act, master of ceremony, radio presenter,
columnist and compere. The Mass Communications graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo
University whose family has just been blessed with a bundle of joy, a bouncing
baby boy spoke to News Editor, Faith Irabor on his winding journey into the
entertainment world.
Looking back,
can you still remember how you ventured into the entertainment industry?
I started off at the Olabisi Onabanjo University
where I MC events and I remember 8 years ago I anchored the biggest show in OSU
where the Zule Zoo twins came to perform. A friend of mine actually paid for my
ticket to be at the event. On getting there he told one of the organizers that
am good and I should be given a chance to just say something. That was how it
all started and like they say the rest is history. Prior to that I did my IT at
Eko FM where I met with Ali Baba and Niyi Ojemakinde, he asked for my number
but then I didn’t have a phone, he didn’t see me as a serious person. So I had
to buy a Motorola and a glo line which I still use till date. After school, I went back to Eko FM and
fortunately Niyi Ojemakinde was no longer there, so I took his place. That was
how it all started and here I am today.
How would
you describe your job as a presenter in Eko FM and how many times do you work
in a week?
Being a presenter in Eko FM I will say is the best
thing that ever happened to me because right there you have a free hand to
work. If all these radio stations were to be like Eko FM I tell you all these
talents wasting on the street would be the best in the world of entertainment. They
gave me a free hand even though I had no prior knowledge of what I was supposed
to do. They encouraged me and were always there to cheer me up. I remember I
wanted to feature on a radio programme (Top 10 countdown with DJ Magic) which
had a segment for comedians. The producer was my supervisor’s colleague where I
served as an IT student at Eko FM then. I convinced them that I could do better
than the comedian they featured on the programme. So I was told that instead of
featuring on the show don’t I replace Niyi Ojemakinde who used to do a pidgin programme.
At first, I felt like why a pidgin programme when I taught English language at
a secondary school back in OSU; I just said let me try and this was how it
began. I went there for Joli Joli Avenue which used to air on Wednesday at
2.10pm to 3pm, I was also given `Una Dey So` now airs every Monday at 5.20pm to
6pm. After like a year I was given another show free of charge; it clocked 4yrs
on air last week but as a Radio Presenter I will clock 5years by April 20th
and that is Ice Nawa.
Tell us
about Ice Nawa?
Ice Nawa is a multi faceted comedy show; the funny
thing about it is that it’s a programme that people think it’s very odd because
we air from 1am – 3am Wednesday night/Thursday morning. It’s been a show which
has featured the likes of JahBless, 9ice and we had Jaywon even before Kennis
Music signed him. We have had a whole lot of stars coming on the show at that
time of the night. When I was given the name I was given just `Ice Water Nawa`
but I just `funkified` it to be `Ice Nawa` and I brought all the body and soul
into it. When I started the show that was when listeners started appreciating
radio shows at midnight and the early hours of the morning. And look at it
today all radio stations now do late night shows and receive calls even till
day break. I think `Ice Nawa` started it all and today we thank God for where
we are still moving up to.
How would
you describe the chance that was given to you by the people you mentioned and
what it has fetched you?
One thing I keep telling people is when God says
it’s going to be, it will be; I was destined to be there at that point in time
and it happened. I thank God for it.
You are a
presenter, voice-over artiste, columnist and a journalist; how do you combine all
this?
For me, it is not really anything but I will just
give God all the glory. I have had to travel to Abeokuta for a show, come back
to Lagos for my own show and at the same time head to Rainbow FM for another
show. You can imagine three shows on same day; it is God. I tell people I am
not a comedian; I would rather see myself as an entertainer. Everybody has
their own gift; there are some comedians who can never be a good MC. And I have
seen some comedians who say they will rather stick to doing comedy and not
anchor event. But in my case I do everything.
Well, we can
see you make a lot of money doing what you do; would you say you are satisfied
and contended with what you have achieved so far?
I am not satisfied; if I say I am satisfied that
means I am tired and I want to start going down.
So what
plans do you have for the New Year?
I started the New Year under my company which is
Ice Water Entertainment; I started a new radio show on Rainbow FM called Gospel
Pidgin Groove every Sunday 1pm – 3pm where we have anointed artistes such as
comedians, musicians. And one unique thing about the show is that for the first
one hour all these old school gospel jams you have heard like many years ago
are being played; next hour we have interviews with celebrities and then the
last segment we have listeners` call and share with us their Sunday experience.
Many times
we hear people start radio or TV shows but after a while the programme is
yanked off because they can’t sustain it due to inability to pay for the airtime;
how do you sustain your programmes and do you get adverts or sponsors?
On this note I have to say Eko FM has been so
magnanimous because if it has to do with adverts I will say when it`s good its
God when its God its good. When it is God’s appointed time things will happen.
Do you see
Ice coming on TV to have a TV show?
That is one of my biggest dreams and it will be
great joy to see it happen. But it has not happened. We are looking towards
that direction if we see sponsors come in
Congratulations
on the arrival of your baby; how would you describe the joy of fatherhood?
It is such a wonderful feeling. We thank God for
the arrival of Mitchell; Mitchell means who is like God and who is unto God. We
had her dedication on January 29th and it was really star studded; a
whole lot of celebrities graced the occasion. We thank the Lord for His
goodness.
How did you
come by the name Ice?
It is actually Ice Water. I remember growing up and
on the street in Dopemu we were the only home that had a freezer so we had cold
water always. So people kind of come to our house for cold water which we call
ice water (laughs). Over time, anytime am passing by, they will call me brother
Ice Water and that was how the name stuck. So when I got to OSU friends told me
to use my real name which is Michael Ayancha and not Ice Water but I disagreed.
I thought people will see me as an Easterner who wants to come to the South to
make money. So I modernized the name to MC Ice but all the same people still
added the Water. At the end of the day I carved out a word from ICE WATER which
is Intercontinental Entertainer with a Taste for Enjoyment and Razzmatazz.
Where are
you from?
I am from Olokuro from Umuahia South Local
Government of Abia State.
If there is
something you want God to do for you what would that be?
He sees the inside of my inner; he knows what I ask
Him in my prayers everyday so that is between me and Him. I knew I was going to
be MC Ice Water right from my school days but I never knew it will happen this
fast. So anything the future holds God will make it happen.
It’s been nice chatting with you
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