Rwandan R&B singer The Ben will be the guest at Thursday’s “Meet Me Tonight” segment of the August edition of the Gen Z Comedy Show at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV). The singer is also expected to perform at the bimonthly comedy show, which is celebrating four years of discovering and nurturing new talent in Rwanda’s comedy industry. The August edition will feature an all-local lineup of comedians who have developed their careers through Gen Z Comedy platforms, according to comedian and show host Merci Ndaruhutse, popularly known as Fally Merci. ALSO READ: Gen Z Comedy brings festive cheer to Kigali’s city celebrations Among those confirmed to perform are Umushumba, Clement Inkirigito, Lucky Baby, MC Kandi & Musa, Rumi and Keppa Family. “This time, we haven’t invited any international comedians. Only comedians raised by Gen Z Comedy will have the opportunity to perform because they have been part of this journey,” Merci told The New Times. He said The Ben was invited following repeated requests from the show's audience. “The Ben is a big artiste, and fans have on several occasions been asking us to bring him. So, we approached him to come and collaborate with us in our celebration, and he didn’t hesitate to say yes to our invitation,” he said. While Gen Z Comedy has provided emerging comedians with a platform to showcase their talent, Merci credits its success to the audience that embraced the initiative. “We thank Rwandans for supporting us. We are celebrating that new comedians are born through Gen Z Comedy. When you look back at how some of them started and see the level they have reached, where people now attend shows specifically to watch them, it truly means a lot to us,” he said. Merci launched Gen Z Comedy in 2022 after graduating from the first cohort of the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi programme. The show initially took place at the Art Rwanda-Ubuhanzi Incubation Centre before moving to Mundi Centre as its audience grew. It later moved to the larger Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (KCEV) at Camp Kigali. Over the years, Gen Z Comedy has hosted several public figures, including celebrities and government officials, through its “Meet Me Tonight” segment. The segment gives guests an opportunity to share their life journeys, experiences and lessons, with the aim of inspiring young people to develop their talents and pursue their ambitions. After four years, Gen Z Comedy has grown from a small platform for emerging comedians into one of Kigali’s regular comedy shows. Its growing audience has driven the move to larger venues while creating more opportunities for performers who have developed through the platform. Tickets are priced at Rwf5,000 for regular entry, Rwf10,000 for VIP and Rwf20,000 for VVIP.
