The third edition of the Caravane du Rire comedy festival lit up the Institut Français in Kigali with laughter and joy, focusing on the growth and impact of the comedy industry, particularly for black comedians in Africa and beyond.

Unlike previous editions that toured Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo, this year’s festival exclusively graced was staged in Kigali on June 29, starring a host of top comedians from across the continent and beyond.

The lineup included some 10 comedians performing in Kinyarwanda, English, and French, catering to a diverse audience.

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Michael Sengazi was the first to grace the stage with humorous jokes sparked noisy applause from hundreds of comedy lovers.

Fally Merci, who normally hosts renowned bimonthly Gen Z Comedy show, next showed up on stage with a performance in pure Kinyarwanda, with jokes showcasing the language’s potential for comedic expression.

Next was up and coming Muhinde then whose jokes about his height rarely disappoint. He did the same at the festival, charming the audience with his relatable humour.

Muhinde didn’t take much time and the few minutes he lasted on stage were worth enjoying. And when he left the stage, Herve Kimenyi had no plan to stop the audience from taking an even small break from laughing.

He brought a global perspective with his comedy, reflecting his extensive experience and open-minded approach. Babou continued the momentum, drawing from his career in the industry Prince Nshizirungu, another rising comedian, delivered a multilingual set of jokes, skillfully switching between Kinyarwanda, English, and French.

It was that time foreign comedians invited for the festival took over the stage and, by then, the festival looked like it was just beginning.

Cotilda Inapo, a Ugandan female stand-up comedian, the first woman on stage, energised the audience with her relatable jokes before Chipukeezy came on for his first performance in Kigali since 2016.

The Kenyan engaged the youthful audience with jokes reminding them their potential to influence change and other life experiences.

Cameronian, Sylvanie Njeng was also given minutes to crack her jokes which were mostly around the West African attitudes before leaving the stage to star of the night Samia Orosemane.

The French-based comedian mesmerized dropped a series of jokes that captivated the audience which begged her time on stage to be extended considering her entertaining performance.

Nevertheless, time was not on organisers’ side as she had to spend as few minutes as she could to pave way for Uganda’s Napoleon who capped off a breathtaking show that left revelers in high spirits, after being served sorts of jokes, from wordplay and self-deprecation to slapstick and dark humour.

Performers’ perspectives

Reflecting on the event, comedians who spoke to The New Times highlighted the growth and flourishing state of the comedy industry in Rwanda and across the region, especially for black comedians in Africa and beyond. They argue that African comedians tell African stories and that&039;s what spices up their comics since anyone can simply relate.

"The comedy industry has come a long way. When I came to Kigali previously, it was mainly Arthur Nkusi's Seka Live. But now we have the Gen-Z comedy show, now we're here for the Caravan and that's enough to show you that the comedy industry is growing. And, importantly, this is the first time I've come for a show that has a lineup of more than one woman," said Clotilda Inapo.

"Most times, I'm either the only woman there so that is even in itself is a big. It's surely an improvement. Not just an improvement, but shows you how fast the comedy is growing and also how great it is that the ladies are in it," she added.

On his side, Chipukeezy, who last performed in Kigali in 2016, acknowledged that Eastern African comedy has grown significantly. He believes it's just a matter of time that the next big comedian in the world comes from East Africa.

"East Africa has more than 600 comedians, and all of them are telling African stories. The beauty of us telling our own stories is that it's really working and going well. In the next few years, we might see the likes of Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart here in Rwanda."

"The region has become the stronghold of African comedy because everyone is doing comedy in Kenya, Uganda, and here in Rwanda. It's just a matter of time before we start seeing some of these African comedians on the global stage. I believe we are heading in the right direction," he said.