Popular stand-up comedians in the region have confirmed they will bring their humor to Kigali, at the comedy festival slated for March 24 and 25.

The event will feature local comedians from Comedy Knights and popular standup comedians in the region like Salvado from Uganda, Kenyans Eric Omondi, Chipu Khizzy, Big Brother Africa award winner Idriss Sultan and Captain Khalid from Tanzania.

The event will also feature Kigingi from Burundi and lead festival headliner Afametuna Klint Igwemma, a.k.a Klint Da Drunk, from Nigeria.

Seka is a word that is easily understood across the Bantu speaking East African region. It means "laugh” in various dialects. On the evening of March 25th, ‘Seka Live’ comedy will take place at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV), otherwise known as Camp Kigali.

"The concept of Seka Live is to establish a consistent live standup comedy event to be hosted by Arthur Nkusi, Rwanda’s leading standup comedian. It will feature leading African and international comedians,” explained Nice Budandi, the co-organizer of the show.

Kenyan comedian Chipu Khizzy is also expected to return this season.

Formerly the Operations Manager of the Komedy Knights, Budandi recently teamed up with Arthur Nkusi to form ARTN Entertainment, the Events Company that is behind the Seka Live concept.

ARTN Entertainment is also responsible for some of the other big comedy events that have taken place in Kigali recently, including the Arthur and Kansime Live comedy show that was staged in July last year, and the Ijoro rya Rutura series of comedy shows held in January this year.

Rutura is the name by which Arthur Nkusi is fondly called by fans.

According to Budandi, Seka Live’s long term goal is to become a regular Kigali comedy festival – the Seka Live Comedy Festival that is to host "many leading comedians and happen in multiple days.”

"Inchoosing the comedians to headline Seka Live shows we look at those at the peak of their careers, and the ones we know Kigalians would love to see. We bring in headliners from outside the country but also provide an opportunity for Rwandan comedians and also the upcoming comedians that haven’t performed on such big stages are always and will always be given a chance,” he further disclosed.

Both Nkusi and Budandi are already down to work, putting together logistics for the second edition of Seka Live that falls on June 4th which is expected to have Ugandan comedian Teacher Mpamire among the performers.

Also on stage will be comedian Kigingi from Burundi, also one of the best from that land, and who was last on a Kigali comedy stage in 2015.

Again, the respected gospel band, Beauty For Ashes will be on hand to handle the live music segment of the show, according to Nkusi.

Budandi and Nkusi share a long history that predates the Komedy Knights from which most of the public got to know them. The two first met at Lycée de Kigali where both attended high school.

They hit it off almost immediately, performing comedy skits for classmates.

Budandi wrote the skits and Nkusi acted them. After their senior six, the Komedy Knights was formed and the journey continued.

"We have worked together for a long time since high school, I feel like we agree on many things plus Arthur is a very creative and hardworking individual which we have in common so it is easy to partner,” said Budandi.

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