Kigali's comedy industry comes of age

No longer is Kigali’s entertainment scene simply about music performances and night clubs. The comedy industry arrived in 2010 and firmly established its foot print on the entertainment scene thereby changing the entertainment scene that most Rwandans were accustomed to. The latest addition to the industry is standup comedy and has uncovered a well of potential and previously unexploited talent within the Rwandan community. Stand-up comedy is a Comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. Standup comedy is not a sole reserve for Rwandans or the Rwandan market; it has become increasingly popular on the continent consequently driving up demand and quality. Nice Budandi the Operations Manager of Comedy Knights toldSunday Times that initially, a comedy show would get a measley 10 to 12 people and they had very few comedians too. “There is no doubt that the comedy scene in the country has registered significant growth. A show these days can be attended by minimally 500 to 1000 or more people. Now we are also having more and more start out comedians getting in touch with us expressing the interest to horn their standup comedy talents,” he said. Budandi adds that despite the industry’s heartening progress it still faces various challenges that visibly slow down the pace of its progress. He identifies lack of a theater hall as one of the most limiting factors. “The problem we face with constantly renting spaces to conduct shows is that not only are they expensive, we also constantly have the sound and lighting system installed and unstalled which is an added cost. We used to host at least a show a month but this gets more difficult and expensive by the day because of the absence of a well suited hall.” he said. He also calls upon more support for the comedy industry from various actors in form of sponsorship citing that businesses can even use it as a platform to advertise their businesses. From bars, night clubs to universities, comedy is planting some rather firm roots. The rise of social media has also with no doubt helped increase the popularity of comedy especially among young people and those living in the Diaspora. Rwanda’s very own Arthur Nkusi, one of the pioneers in the industry in the country is taking it a step further and making a name for himself in the region. He told Sunday Times Rwandans enjoy comedy. “Take an example of the famous and very popular stories of Joriji Baneti. People have enjoyed them for a very old time and they just don’t grow old. The problem was just that an industry was yet to be established. Africa over, comedy is thriving as witnessed by viral social media posts, funny elements on television and the addition of comedy to formal events,” he said. Having risen to nationwide fame following his work on radio, Arthur is encouraging young and start-out comedians through a platform called ‘The Comedy Hub’ which will be held weekly. “We are on the hunt for fresh comedians and the shows will be free and open mic so even people in the audience can share their own jokes. Content makes a comedian, the more timely and relevant it is, the better it strikes a chord with the audience,” he advises start-out comedians. Comparing Rwanda’s comedy industry with that of neighboring countries, Arthur highlights that it is still growing and needs more sponsors. He adds that in other countries like Uganda and Kenya, almost 4 comedy shows take place at the same time even without recognised theater halls. The industry is male dominated with very few female comedians something Arthur says is due to bad mindset change. “I would tell women who see in themselves the potential for comedy that the industry is waiting for them and the audience would really love a woman on stage. There is money in comedy just like any other talent and they are very welcome aboard the comedy ship,” he says. The vibe in Kigali this past weekend revolved around a comedy show dubbed ‘Game of Jokes’ the brain child of Rwanda’s youngest comedian John Muyenzi II best known for his stage name Babu. The show received an impressive turn out and further encouraged the young comedian who says he has had many up’s and down’s in the first two years of his career. “I have decided to pursue performing arts and theatre but it hasn’t always been easy. I took the time to find myself, find my own style and push myself out of my comfort zone. My comedy revolves around daily activities and current events that people experience but rarely talk about.” he said. He adds that consistency is paramount for any comedian. He encourages the Rwandan community to really own the industry and support the artists taking a step further from simply liking and sharing posts on social media. “We have performed in other countries and received incredible reception because people have really embraced the art of comedy. Rwandan comedians are growing in popularity in the region but the best support ideally comes primarily from performing at home.” he said. Clarisse Umurerwa, an avid comedy fan applauds the progress of the local comedy industry and urges comedians to explore and become more daring with their material. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Entertainment

Kigali's comedy industry comes of age