Comedian and events promoter Alex Muhangi has blamed the decline in Uganda’s comedy scene on a drop in the quality of writing and a lack of creativity among some performers.
Muhangi defended his decision to include musicians in comedy shows, arguing that the industry has changed over the years, with some comedians becoming too comfortable and failing to consistently develop fresh material.
Reflecting on the earlier days of comedy, Muhangi said performers were expected to write new jokes regularly and could not afford to repeat material.
“Back then we couldn’t repeat jokes, and we would write new content every week. Today’s comedians are working hard, but more needs to be done. They get too comfortable, and this has led to the level of comedy dropping,” he said.
Muhangi also explained that his decision to combine musicians and comedians on the same stage is driven partly by the business side of entertainment.
He noted that while he is a comedian, he is also a businessman who needs to sell tickets and make profits from the shows he organises. Including musicians, he explained, helps attract a wider audience and makes the events more appealing to potential ticket buyers.
“When people see the artworks, they come to see different people, and then I decide their stage time,” Muhangi said, explaining how he manages the performers featured on his shows.