‘Come with pain killers’– Anne Kansiime

As we anxiously get ready for the much anticipated rib-cracking comedy night this Friday at the Royal Car Wash Gardens, The New Times’ Bryan Kimenyi caught up with Anne Kansiime, who is expected to perform alongside our own comedian David Ndahiro, Uganda’s Patric Salvado and Eric Omondi from Kenya.Kansiime is by far the funniest comedienne in East Africa. She started her comic journey as a second-year student at Makerere University in Uganda, when she joined Theatre Factory, the pioneer comedy outfit in Kampala that targeted the corporate audience. Her status has risen over the years especially after moving to a new group, Fun Factory. She is today a YouTube comedy sensation, with most of her skits the most viewed in the region. Kansiime also hosts a public dialogue show codenamed Minibuzz during weekdays on NTV the number one TV station in Uganda.Below are the excerpts:Who is Anne Kansiime?Anne Kansiime is a Mukiga, born and raised in Kabale District in Western Uganda. I am a comedienne, with Fun Factory and co-presenter of the NTV Mini Buzz. I did not study comedy but I always had love for comedy. I am 26 years old.Have you been to Rwanda before?No, I haven’t been in Rwanda before, though I have always wanted to visit the country. You know I am from Kabale which borders Rwanda but I don’t know why I’ve never taken time to cross that border. I am happy to be in Rwanda at last.What do you have in stock for Rwandans this Friday?There is plenty I have prepared for this show. My advice for those hoping to attend Friday’s comedy show, is carry for themselves pain killers because I am going to crack their ribs. How will you achieve that when you don’t speak Kinyarwanda?You know, I do my comedy in English, Lukiga and Luganda. Despite all that, I have managed to get fans from across the world and performed in many places. Comedy isn’t about language, comedians are entertainers and they have to find a way of interesting the crowd before them with what they are doing.Do you have any jokes about Rwandans?(Laughs)I can’t reveal anything right now. If you want to laugh to some of my jokes about Rwandans, make it to the show.What advice would you give to young comedians in Rwanda?I don’t think I am in position to give advice to upcoming comedians since I am also still new in the industry. However, that doesn’t mean that I know nothing about this field. As entertainers, we should always focus on getting better professionally, work hard and avoid getting carried away by the money we make. At the end of the day, the fame and money we get is because of the hard work we inject in what we do.Do you have any other comedians in your family?I find everyone in my family capable of becoming a comedian like me. Most of my relatives have good sense of humor but none of them have ever tried to join this field.People have been asking, are you single?(Giggles) Yes, remember I asked you guys to hit on me; you have to chase for my love!

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‘Come with pain killers’– Anne Kansiime