Comedy Kings and ‘Queen’ Kansiime rock Kigali

They came, they joked, they conquered---that ultimately sums up what transpired at Executive Carwash on Friday evening when the highly anticipated ‘Kings of Komedy’ show took place.If anything, the organisers Curtsy Events will think of getting another venue if the show is to take place monthly as planned.Business came to a standstill at the Kimihurura-based Carwash as Anne Kansiime and Patrick Idringi, aka Salvador from Uganda, our very own David Ndahiro, Kenya’s Eric Omondi, OMG from Nigeria and the emcee-turned-comedian Renee Nsengiyumva did what they do best before a mammoth crowd.There was hardly any place to park all the way from the New Cadillac junction to the Rugunga roundabout as some of the comedy lovers chose to park on roadside pavements. The venue itself, the Executive Carwash gardens was choking on human congestion. Organisers had to inflate the entrance fee from Rwf5, 000 to Rwf7, 000 as hundreds squeezed in to catch a glimpse of the comedians.The skies that had opened earlier spared the evening as the afternoon rain subsided. The evening opened with alternating skits by the MC Nsengiyumva, who also proved to the crowd that he knows a thing or two about cracking jokes and sure the crowd loved him.However, it is hard to tell who stole the show of all the five men and one woman that shared the stage, but it is fair to say that going by the reaction of the crowd, Salvador, the telecom engineer-turned comedian and Anne Kansiime pulled it off.Known for their natural, off-the-cuff humour, Salvador and Kansiime will not sweat to make the crowd laugh---everything that comes out of their mouth is literally funny, while Omondi’s jokes are basically for the ‘corporate and learned fellows’.You might need to pay some extra attention to get the jokes of one of Kenya’s leading stand-up comedians. Omondi and Kansiime thrive on turning situations or characteristics back home into very good humour. While Kansiime will take jibes on Kampala’s potholed roads, Omondi will focus on how unromantic Kenyans are.Thanks to her Youtube Minibuzz videos, Kansiime is more of a household name in Rwanda and therefore did not struggle to win the hearts and laughs of the crowd.Touting herself as a proud Mukiga-from Kabale, the pint-sized comedian thrives on making jokes out of her native, in heavy Rukiga accent. The Bakiga from Uganda are known for their no nonsense attitude and aggressiveness.“Sincerely I am overwhelmed. How can we be loved in Rwanda more than we are loved back home?” Kansiime pondered, following the love the comedians were shown, jokingly adding, “I might consider getting myself a Rwandan man.” Salvador on the other hand takes pride in mocking people in ways that will live the crowd in tatters, thanks to his eloquence that compliments his high sense of humour.Homeboy Ndahiro also did not have to sweat to impress the crowd through gimmicking President Paul Kagame. Complete with his bodyguard, Ndahiro managed to imitate the Head of State, in a way that if anyone in the crowd did not laugh, they were certainly in awe of the comedian’s abilities to imitate the President.On the other hand, the MC Nsengiyumva also told a few well coined jokes from his comical childhood to the delight of the crowd. The Nigerian, Michel Osemi otherwise known as OMG also managed a few good jokes, with a Nigerian touch, influenced by his Pidgin English, akin to what you see or hear in Nollywood movies.To wind up a good evening of three hours of comedy, all the comedians took to the stage to showcase their different talents, from dancing to talking. It was all fun. They also dished out Nakumatt shopping vouchers to lucky members of the audience.At 11:00pm, the show closed with an aura of success. According to George Agaba one of the organisers, the comedy show will be taking place monthly.“We are looking at hosting a comedy show every month. Our plan is to alternate comedians. Next month if it goes as planned it could be Churchill and Pablo, the other month perhaps Basketmouth, who knows?”“We have also learnt lessons. Next time we will consider a much bigger venue,” Agaba said.

Leisure

Comedy Kings and ‘Queen’ Kansiime rock Kigali