The atmosphere was electric inside Kigali Convention Centre as East African comedians including Uganda’s Anne Kansiime, Kenya’s Mammito, and Rwanda’s own Rusine, Babu, and Herve Kimenyi, entertained hundreds of young people who gathered in Kigali for the seventh edition Youth Connekt Africa Summit. The four-day summit, held from November 8 to November 11, attracted youth, leaders, and innovators from across Africa under the theme, “Jobs for Youth Through Innovative Skilling.” ALSO READ: Youth Connekt a 'path to innovation, opportunity’ Hosted by renowned Rwandan comedian Fally Merci, the comedy show stood out as a key highlight of the summit which was shaped by humour and heart among the summit participants. Rwanda’s Babu kicked off the show with a joke about his own birth story, saying he always knew he’d be a comedian because, as he put it, his parents thought they were having a girl until he surprised them as a boy. This quirky beginning set the tone for an evening filled with laughter, wit, and insightful reflections. Rusine followed on stage, dancing to Andy Bumuntu’s hit song “On Fire.” Known for his drunk-inspired humour, Rusine joked about the unique challenges of Bumuntu’s deep, soothing voice, joking that it would be impossible for him to work as a bus driver or especially if he needed to shout for help in an emergency in case something bad happens to him. This means, music fans would have missed a lot of the “Valentine” singer was to choose any other career apart from music. Rusine also offered a satirical commentary on the dangers of alcohol, warning that it often misleads judgement and decision-making. ALSO READ: Political stability is key for development of African youth – Kagame Herve Kimenyi followed with jokes about his trips, recounting a funny encounter with a European woman who admired Rwandan gorillas. Kimenyi humorously remarked that the woman’s fascination made him feel like she saw him as part of the gorilla family, though he joked he’d need to add about 500 kilograms to really fit that image. The crowd went wild when Mammito, visibly pregnant, danced her way onto the stage. She joked about the generational differences between Kenya and Rwanda, observing that, while Rwandan youth were enjoying a comedy show, many of their Kenyan counterparts were out protesting (recently). Mammito extended her jokes to her pregnancy, joking that it wouldn’t stop her from keeping her options open for suitors. Uganda’s Anne Kansiime closed the show with an emotionally charged yet funny set. She joked about being almost single despite bringing happiness to Rwandans for over 16 years. For her, Rwandan disappointed her and she revealed that she really craves Rwandan men! Kansiime also poked fun at the orderly nature of Rwanda’s parliament, contrasting it with Uganda’s famously chaotic parliamentary sessions. Arguably one of East Africa’s leading comedians, Kansiime also urged the young generation to leverage their technological skills and market themselves, saying, “If you’re a youth, you have no excuse. Pick up your phone, show people what you can do, sing, cook, whatever it is, let the world know.” The comedy session was followed by an interactive segment called “Meet Me Tonight,” where Kimenyi and Babu interviewed Kansiime and Mammito about the challenges they face as comedians. Both comedians acknowledged the difficulty of being taken seriously in their field but expressed no regrets about choosing comedy. However, Kansiime noted that, as a mother, balancing parenthood and her career is manageable because both roles are integral to who she is. Youth Connekt Africa summit closes on Monday, November 11. It brought together over 3,000 delegates from across Africa, including entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators, artists, and students.
