Uganda’s stand-up comedy landscape is too saturated with vernacular-speaking comics, anyone would conclude the English acts are next to extinct.
Names like MC Mariachi, Madrat & Chiko, Maulana & Reign, Kapale still dominate the gigs from the small bar comedy theme nights up to the biggest comedy platforms. Little wonder, the trend has influenced the demographics in the new crop of comics, majority of whom have chosen Luganda over English.
However, the latest edition of Salvado’s Africa Laughs over the weekend successfully debunked this theory. English stand-up might not be as prominent in Uganda, but there’s a thriving ecosystem and the prospects are promising.
Akite Agnes, the most prominent woman in stand-up after Anne Kansiime, opened the show after a passionate acoustic session by Janzi Band.
At 9:30pm, Akite took to the stage in the most unpredictable outfit – a gomesi. The choice of wardrobe was not accidental as her intro dwelled on the nightmares that women endure by wearing the gomesi and jumpsuits.
“Women used to dress decently until the devil became a tailor” she jested before delving deeper into the subject, explaining her personal experiences drinking too much beer (usually because someone else is paying the bill) and the struggle to remove the jumpsuit when it’s time to use the toilet.
“It’s called a jumpsuit because you’ll jump while removing it.”
Okello Okello relived the Covid lockdown blues. Reminding everyone who had always thought highly of their professions until all of the sudden the LDUs (low-ranking security personnel) were so essential to the extent that they determined whether or not you moved.
Then he told funny stories of his troubles with Mathematics and History back in school, that many seemed to relate to.
Then came Dr Hillary who switched topics up a bit, touching on love, drawing a contrast between love with the wealthy versus a relationship that is money deficient.
“A poor boyfriend will interrogate you than help you with a request for financial assistance. Rather than offer to send money for rent, he will quiz you why you chose to stay in an expensive apartment and not cheaper ones,” Dr Hillary went on as guests nearly chocked on laughter.
The fast-rising comedian who recently performed at Seka Fest in Kigali sets himself apart with not just subject range, he is a superb actor. His command of English, the tact he employs in act-outs and his effortless delivery make him one of a kind.
The four-hour show at Kololo Independence Grounds served different topics as it did energy. Bebe Cool who sat through the show was subject in different sets, many times as a victim of the jest – for example when South Africa’s Loyiso Golo threw shade at him, saying he didn’t know him.
Together with Salvado, Bebe Cool surprised the audience with an entertaining redo of Fire Anthem as the comedian flawlessly sang Wyre’s and Nazizi’s verses.
There was another unmissable observation when all was said and done. Uganda’s stand-up has often been ridiculed for normalizing vulgarism. Many argue local comics have become synonymous with jokes that are dirty and abusive.
On Friday, it was instead the foreign acts that went big on vulgar.
Golo who closed the night’s comedy struggled for the most part. Even worse when he pulled up a joke that explained why Gen Z wasn’t affected by Covid as those much older were. In his explanation, this was because Gen Z’s immunity has been hardened by some of their mannerisms – like eating *ss. The joke was too bitter, you could hear everyone cringing.
He wasn’t the only one whose set was dominated by the ‘f’ word. It’s either the reality of the unprejudiced level at which these acts play or the conservative lens through which Ugandans consume comedy. The irony is, critics of Ugandan stand-up who front the argument of vulgar continue to comfortably consume American stand-up where swearing and obscenity are a staple.
Celeste Ntuli, also from South Africa, too delivered a highly sexualized set – from tasty p**** to sex positions that don’t favor women her size -, the first quarter of it about her struggles as a 40-year-old who is still single and how this has made her more liberal.
“I’m at that age where I no longer ask for 6 packs, money or good d**k. I just ask ‘Can he walk?’ When I go on dates, I no longer ask a man ‘What are your dreams?’. I want to know, do you have diabetes?”.
She had hilarious tips for plus-sized women like herself. Like carrying two underwears – the actual one they wear and a normal (smaller) size one – whenever they go for a sleepover at a man’s place.
“You can’t be hanging your parachute underwear in the man’s room. You don’t wanna find kids swinging in the underwear. Hang the smaller one instead, for him to see. Confuse the enemy.”
Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi played co-host. The comedian who has become a regular on local shows couldn’t help but milk something from Kenya’s recent elections. Being satirical, he admired Uganda which “has the shortest elections, which are straight to the point”.
In another comparison, he dramatized Jeff Koinange’s up-close interviews with Kenyan politicians in juxtaposition with a recent interview where President Museveni was physically miles away from the interviewer (a Kenyan journalist).
The night’s lineup also had Madrat & Chiko, Ehmah Napoleone and singer Ykee Benda.
Zimbabwean comic, Q Dube recollected his disappointment when he flew Uganda Airlines. The flight attendant promised to offer him a Rolex (which comes on the ticket) only to be told later, he had eaten it.
Earlier, Dube took a jab at whites in the audience, many of whom were occupying the general seats while the blacks sat in the VIP. It’s about time they tasted what blacks have endured for long, he added.
To the disappointment of some, two acts, Daliso Chaponda (Malawi) and Gordons (Nigeria) were a no-show.
The fairly-attended show ended at 1:23am after a performance by singer, Azawi.
Comedians Pablo, Alex Muhangi, Richard Tuwangye and Hannington Bujingo were in attendance, in what seemed like the industry’s show of support.
