By NKOLE NKOLE
THE organisers promised rib-cracking laughter and that’s exactly what came out of last Friday’s comedy show hosted by the Comedy Lounge and featuring guest Ugandan comedians Anne Kansiime and Pablo.
Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre car park was crammed as ‘patients’ in need of that ‘medicine’ called laughter packed-up Mulungushi’s main conference hall.
Performing on the night were different local music artistes and local comedians, who attempted to share their best jokes with the crowd.
Kansiime and Pablo, the Kampala-based comedian pair who all had come to perform live, put up a hilarious performance although Kansiime could have stayed a little longer considering the crowd she drew and the two-hour wait they endured until she finally appeared.
Also in attendance at the show was Matero member of Parliament Miles Sampa, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation director general Chibamba Kanyama and National Arts Council (NAC) chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe.
Dressed as a little girl in a white dress with ponytails, Kansiime, in collaboration with the show’s host, Chibwe Katebe, sent the crowd roaring with laughter while she acted out a comic skit as Katebe’s daughter.
That performance happened to be only an ‘appetiser’ as afterwards local musician-cum-comedian, MC Wabwino, took to the stage for a show of his witty side.
He did okay for two minutes or so until the bored crowd decided he had no humorous edge to hold them any longer and booed him off the stage.
But a ready replacement in the name of Kenneth Kimuli, aka Pablo, the current Stand Up Uganda winner and journalist by profession, proved himself an audience favourite and turned out to be the darling of the night.
He even stole Kansiime’s limelight as chants of “Pablo, Pablo!” were constantly heard while other acts were happening on stage.
Describing himself as a VIP to mean Very Improved Peasant, Pablo was well armed with side-splitting punch lines.
Also on the comedy line-up was talented local comedian Collins Zulu, who warmed the crowd with his impersonation of different local politicians including an imitation of Nigerian preacher TB Joshua and Zambia national soccer team coach Herve Renard.
Other local acts such as Dangerous Jo’burg and the pair Ama Blacks happened not to be funny enough for the audience and were clapped off the stage during their performances.
Also adding colour to the event were artistes Petersen Zagaze and Chichi. The crowd was also entertained by some performers dancing salsa.
Kansiime danced and sang during her stand-up show and warmed herself to the receptive crowd even though her time on stage was noticeably short.
Some audience members felt she could have done more comic skits, which they have come to love her for, ever since she became a viral sensation.
Towards the end of Kansiime’s short performance, Pablo joined her on stage and together they sang to a much entertained audience.
Comedian Katebe, who was the show’s host, said part of the purpose for hosting the show was to encourage women to take up the art of stand-up comedy.
“We have a lot of stand-up comedians, who only end up as matrons at kitchen parties,” Katebe said.
In the end, the Friday night entertainment treat hosted by the Comedy Lounge was well packaged and show-goers left Mulungushi visibly satisfied with the comical end to their week.
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