For a comedy show that was to be spiced up and crowned by musical performances, fans showed that their heart was with the comedians.

Season four of Seka Live comedy series at the Kigali Serena Hotel Sunday night attracted local and Ugandan comedians, and Ugandan musical headlining act, Ragga Dee.

But show goers seemed more interested in comedy than Ragga Dee’s closing musical performance.

The show kicked off with a curtain-rising segment dedicated to up-and-coming local comedy talent. At a comedy audition prior to the show, the organisers, Arthur Nation held auditions in Kigali at which finalists were selected to debut on the Seka Live stage.

Out of the 20 contestants that were auditioned, 11 made it (10 boys and 1 girl), and it is these that were selected for Seka Live. Each was given five minutes on stage to make an impression on the crowd.

The fact that there was only one girl out of 11 finalists was the best pointer to the gender imbalance that still afflicts the local comedy scene, even though local comedy shows are usually attended by as many women as their male counterparts, if not more.

Also, on the musical side was Nep DJs’ Herbz, although previous Seka Live editions have featured mostly live band music from local gospel outfit Beauty For Ashes.

Upcoming dancehall singer Syntex Kabera opened the musical segment and performed two songs, before giving way to Nicholas, another upcoming artiste.

At 9pm, the show started, with a Ugandan comedian Jaja Bruce, who did more of dancing than cracking jokes.

However, the earliest highlight of the show was when comedian Arthur Nkusi, the host of Seka Live invited a young upcoming artist called Messi to stage.

Messi was supposed to have performed with the other 10 upcoming comedians in the Seka Rising Stars opening segment, but had decided to delay his performance until his parents arrived at the show.

His wish was granted and indeed the wait was worth it. Messi tickled the ribs of the audience from when he stepped on stage till the end of his set, delivering nonstop jokes on various aspects of social and public life in Rwanda.

Pablo Kimuli from Uganda was the first among the big comedy acts on the stage, after which it was time for Herve Kimenyi and Alex Muhangi.

Pablo’s performance was fast paced, a pace that neither Kimenyi nor Muhangi after him could keep up with. His clever and well-heeled jokes about growing up in extreme poverty were the crowning jewel in his performance.

No wonder the applause he received after his performance was the most deafening.

Also from Uganda was comedian Muhangi, who had a faltering start but later got his act together. However, he spent a lot of his time flossing over local socialite Shadyboo, who was in attendance.

Ragga Dee’s musical performance was supposed to be the climax of the show, but it instead turned out as the anti-climax.

With no recent hit to his name, many people started walking out of the venue as soon as he hit the stage.

Not even his offer of $4,000 (about Rwf3.4m) to someone that would win his dancing challenge could move the crowd.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw