Rudolf Okonkwo is the host of SaharaTV's popular satire show, Dr. Damages. The popular writer and columnist explains what he does every week on his show to African-Abroad newspaper in the interview below:
Rudolf Okonkwo is the host of SaharaTV's popular satire show, Dr. Damages. The popular writer and columnist explains what he does every week on his show to African-Abroad newspaper in the interview below:
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Q. Why is one end of your stethoscope made of hammer?
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A. Every time my son sees the show he asks, “Daddy, when am I getting my hammer back?” Well, Dr. Damages is a doctor who is not shy about cracking open coconut heads running the affairs of nations, or covering cracks on the walls of nations by nailing planks across or pulling off nails from leaking tires. Dr. Damages’s not your grandfather’s doctor.
Q. Your mantra, “I diagnose you heal yourself.” What does that signify?
A. It was Omoyele Sowore who came up with that. I didn’t ask what it meant to him. For me it simply says that for this illness that our nation suffers from to go away, the viewers, we all, should be part of the treatment plan. Everyone must play a part. Prayers alone will not do it. God will not come down and fix the road or the leaking roof. We all have to be involved in executing the solution.
Q. Has there been any push back by government officials that you lampooned?
A. I guess they are having a ball watching. Nobody in government has ever contacted me. The only high ranking person I heard from was a former minister. The ex-minister wanted me to explain the joke I made about her that she considered dry. But I heard from the grapevine that those in government are having a laugh- which is what it should be. At the very least, they should laugh. But if it makes them reflect, then my job is done.
Q. How do you know when you cross the line of good taste?
A. Well, in this business they say that nothing crushes comedy like the fear of crossing the line of good taste. When it comes to Nigerian comedy scene, it is still a virgin territory. We are very far from the edge. The little we do just open up the political space for everyone. To understand how this works, flash back a few weeks ago when Prof. Wole Soyinka called the First lady Patience Jonathan a shepopotamus. I’m sure Soyinka does not know that there is a show called Dr. Damages. But by virtue of what he said, he opened up the political space for us. If someone as respectable as Soyinka could call the First Lady that, we need to dig deeper to find more effective description to use.
Q. Have you done anything that you feared went too far?
A. I will say none so far. But the day we had President Jonathan sitting on a toilet seat was unique. The skit was fun to do. But the moment we posted that picture on Facebook, I knew it was something else. In less than one hour, there were over 500 comments. They were all abusing Saharareporters, threatening never to visit the site. By the time it got over 1000 comments, I wondered for a moment if we had crossed a line, any line. But the problem with comedy is that the only way to know the red line is by crossing it. And once you cross it, it ceases to be a red line. I tell you, a free mind is a scary thing. The only limit it has is the one it imposes on itself. I have very little of such imposition on myself.
Q. Any plan to have your show on a regular TV channel in Nigeria for instance?
A. We are talking to NTA. (laughs) Just kidding! There have been enquires but it often ends there. To show Dr. Damages on a TV station in Nigeria, the channel must have balls. The owner must be from the outer space. You see, we pick on both the government and the opposition so we have no friends out there. Anyone who broadcasts Dr. Damages on his TV station will lose his or her license the next day. They will even be charged with sedition. In the eyes of people who own Nigeria, I mean both the government and the opposition, our show is that bad. When people ask me I say, maybe after the revolution.
Q. What’s the future of Dr. Damages Show?
A. In American TV culture, show number 100 means that the program is qualified for syndication. That’s like saying it’s gotten to its retirement age. I’ll do it until young talented political satirists come and put me out of business.
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