Just for laughs

The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the most successful science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic, and illegal downloads.

Well, on a chilly Sunday morning at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Pulse hooks up with one of the Dr Who popular actors, Neil Reidman, a leading British actor also famous for his roles in productions such as Prince of Morocco, Merchant of Venice, Pinocchio, Holby City, Tough Love, The Bill, Holby City, Holby City, Body Story, Casualty, Crimewatch File, Nature Boy, Come Outside and Body Story, Casualty, Crimewatch File, Nature Boy and Come Outside just to mention a few.

Accompanied by his host Sharon Agina, the director of the Pearls of Africa, a Kenyan film (now being filmed in Kenya and Hollywood) and a fellow British actor Kevin Leisle as well as teen star actress Francisca Agina, we head to Serena Hotel where we are joined by filmmaker Alex Konstantaras and fast-rising Kenyan actress Liz Njagah — both starring in the just released comedy film Me, My Wife and Her Guru.

Comic Relief

 “How is the comedy industry in Kenya? Is theatre big here?” Reidman poses; throwing the whole table into a prolonged discussion on how local stand-up comedy is yet to measure to international standards.

Reidman was voted the Best Male Actor at the 9th BFM International Film Festival for his role in Darren in The Birthday in 2007. He was also nominated for the Best Actor award BFM in Win Lose or Draw with a nomination for Best Actor in 2008.

“To bring out the real character in a comedy show, one has to play their role as if they believe in it. That is how you become a good comedy actor,” he notes to a humble nod by the celebrated stars around the lively debate.

From Churchill Live, to the Mnet screened Comedy Club, Me, My Wife and Her Guru the new Comic Central show, as well as the ongoing play 43rd Kenyan Tribe, the stars debated opening up to the reality of what international comedy is as compared to the scene across Africa.

 “If you don’t watch out, the Nigerians will come over and take over your industry as they are becoming very aggressive in selling their act across the world. Just look at real local situations affecting the people and bring them out in a comic way,” Reidman said noting that comedy does not necessarily need to be sophisticated.     

The plot

“That is true. The Me, My Wife and Her Guru  movie, for example is inspired by all the stories related to cults, fake pastors and Finger of God type of Churches, which made headlines in local news last year. It’s a fictional piece and a critical view to today’s Kenyan society,” noted Konstantaras talking about the just released movie featuring seasoned actor Ian Mbugua.

From the old Vioja Mahakamani TV series to Riverwood Kenyan comedy has come a long way, growing from leaps and bounds to the new generation of actors inspired by shows like Fanya and Family, Steve Muturi, Shabbir, and frontrunners Redykyulass.

In fact, comedy is one of the fast growing art in our showbiz industry. Besides the now popular Churchill Live, two TV comedy shows are set to hit local TV in the coming months.

Weekly club comedy nights have received a major following in Nairobi and are being used by amateur comedians as launching pads into the big stage.

“I have had a good and challenging run screening 44 shows (so far) of Churchill Live non stop. I have been looking at the new talents in town and advising them on how they should come up with their own style and character as opposed to copying my style.

That is what Churchill Live wants to do for the actors,” maintains Daniel Ndambuki aka Churchill.

Back in the days we used to act and mimic the likes of Raila, Moi and Kibaki during that Redykyulass era. But we are now bringing these guys live on stage.

We are changing our way of scripting as well as our language to let our comedians attain that international standard,” explains Churchill.

According to Churchill, even though Kenyan comedians have long thrived on mediocre jokes centred on tribal dialects and jokes, time has come to take the industry to the next level.

Intelligent Jokes

He however insists that humour is universal and all Kenyan comedians need to do is script their jokes in a way the whole would can understand.

“We know that Africa has been talking about the likes of Nigeria’s Basket Mouth. But you saw how Kenyan comedians like Abel Mutua and Mdomo Baggy gave all those renown rib crackers a run for their money when they faced them head-to-head during the screening of the Mnet Comedy Club season 2 shot in Mombasa last year. Its just a matter of time before we conquer Africa,” says Churchill who is also the Laughter Industry founder.

The versatile actor who also runs a theatre group notes that Africa’s comedians are among the funniest in the world going by what viewers were treated to in the Comedy Club episodes hosted by former Studio 53 presenter and entertainment personality Fareed Khimani.

The series featured some of the hottest comedians in Africa, with its line-up including performers from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Among them were Lepacious Bose and Owen Gee (Nigeria), Pablo and Kizito (Uganda) and Evans Bukuku from Tanzania.

Eric Omondi, a fast-rising star and one of the main fixtures in Churchill Live echoes his mentor’s sentiments.

“The problem is that most of our viewers are not used to intellectual jokes so many comedians keep on doing the same mediocre jokes. But I believe that on an international platform, we can up the game. You can imagine how good it would be to act a character as Obama or Osama out there with a Kenyan touch,” jokes Eric.

New talent

Asked which new comedian he thinks is versatile enough to fit into the old cronies shoes, Eric mentions his brother Freddy who is equally a rib-cracker and AKA who also appears in Churchill Live.

Eric says it is easy to know how good a comedian is by the way he or she scripts their jokes and creates a certain character image around themselves. He believes the two have what it takes to take up the big stage.

“We have seen great and unexposed talents coming to our shows and we can only help these guys get exposed to the world,” Says Simuyu Munyali, an actor and brother to singing sensation Size 8, and brains behind Comedy Central.

“Time has come for the comedy industry to grow,” adds Simiyu.

He says that  being a stand-up comedian takes just the right mixture of writing, timing and delivery. With a live audience that sometimes wants nothing more than to make a comedian miserable it’s no laughing matter. Unless, of course, one is exceptionally gifted.

 He says he has learnt the trade by watching American comedians such as Bill Hicks, Eddie Murphy, Denis Leary, Louis CK, Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor.

However, American comedy is so different from African comedy.

“The Americans are a liberal society and their level of technology allows them debate some issues — even in a flare — you would be killed if you dared use here. If we stick to what our society believes in and how people here think, we can sell ourselves to the world,” Churchill concludes.