Comedy Store’s 10th Anniversary: musicians take over the laughs

A decade in comedy is worth celebrating, but if the tenth-anniversary show at Lugogo Cricket Oval was anything to go by, Comedy Store has some work to do to convince audiences that its best jokes are still ahead of it.

What was billed as a major celebration of one of Uganda’s longest-running comedy platforms turned into a night of familiar punchlines, uneven performances, musical entertainment and a headline act that kept thousands of revellers waiting until the early hours of the morning.

The much-anticipated celebration brought together comedians, musicians, celebrities and government officials, with many revellers seemingly more interested in seeing Tanzanian Superstar Diamond Platnumz than watching the comedy that had brought the platform this far.

Hosted by Salvador and Kalela, the show attracted a sizeable crowd, but the opening comedy performances struggled to generate the excitement expected of such a milestone.

Salvado With Alex Muhangi During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

Bizonto, one of Uganda’s popular comedy groups, leaned heavily on familiar political jokes, while several other comedians appeared to rely on material that regular Comedy Store followers had heard before.

Recycled jokes became something of a running theme. Tr Mpamire returned to his familiar 'slave, slave, slave' routine, while Salvador revisited his popular 'This is the day' line and joked about his Kyadondo show, which he claimed had flopped so badly that he could hear echoes from the audience while performing.

There were, however, a few moments when the comedy found its rhythm. Madrat and Chico attempted to get the crowd laughing with jokes about President Yoweri Museveni, while Tumbetu also made an effort to entertain the audience.

Maulana And Reign Cracking A Joke About Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa At Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

Nantume brought her familiar observations about relationships, women pulling and men giving women money, while Maulana and Reign revisited their respective stories about being arrested, one over politics and the other over child support.

Although some of the performances attracted laughter, much of the material felt like a return to familiar territory. For an anniversary marking ten years of comedy, audiences deserved more fresh material and fewer reminders of jokes they had already heard.

The musicians, meanwhile, did much of the heavy lifting in keeping the entertainment alive.

A live band session offered a welcome change of pace, while Ray G delivered a performance accompanied by a live band. Karole brought an entire squad of dancers, delivering one of the evening's energetic performances.

Winnie Nwagi also got revellers moving, while Rema Namakula entertained the crowd before introducing Rwandan singer The Ben, adding an international touch to the musical lineup.

Spice Diana With Her Dancers Looking All Smart During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

However, the biggest attraction remained Diamond Platnumz, whose appearance had kept revellers anticipating the headline moment.

The Tanzanian star had already made headlines the previous night after keeping journalists waiting for a press conference that was eventually held at around 1:00am.

As the event went past midnight, the stage fell silent for close to 30 minutes, with no headline act in sight. Even the hosts appeared to have run out of ways to keep the audience entertained.

Diamond eventually arrived at approximately 1:40am, prompting excitement among those who had patiently waited for him.

He opened with 'I Want to Marry You' before moving into some of his popular hits, including 'Komaa Sava'. He greeted the Ugandan audience with "Mugamba ki?" immediately drawing a response from the crowd.

Accompanied by a full choreography team and a live band, Diamond brought the kind of stage production and performance energy that had been missing from much of the evening.

However, his arrival did not immediately translate into music. His team spent additional time arranging equipment and making sound adjustments before the performance properly got underway.

The preparations frustrated some revellers, particularly those who felt the same equipment had already been used by the earlier performers.

"They are the same equipment the other musicians have been using. Why waste our time with a sound check?" one reveller questioned.

After only four or five songs, some revellers, particularly those in the VIP section, had started leaving. Whether it was exhaustion, the late hour or frustration over the lengthy wait, the departures were noticeable.

The concert eventually ended a few minutes before 4:00am, with sections of the VIP and VVIP areas already nearly empty.

The event also attracted notable guests, including State Minister of Internal Affairs Juma Kisekka Uwitonze, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa and Justine Nameere, the State Minister for Local Government.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa And His Wife Enjoying Maulana And Reign's Comedy During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

The presence of senior government officials added to the occasion, although the event's extended hours raised questions among revellers about the enforcement of Kampala Metropolitan's event curfew, which generally requires public concerts to wind up by midnight.

The tenth-anniversary celebration had initially been scheduled for earlier this year but was postponed following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Organisers subsequently pushed the event to a later date before settling on the Cricket Oval show.

Winnie Nwagi Entertaining Revelers During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya 2

While the postponement was understandable, the rescheduled celebration still had to deliver on the promise of a decade of comedy.

Ten years is a significant milestone for any entertainment platform. Comedy Store has provided a stage for comedians, nurtured talent and given audiences a regular dose of laughter. That achievement deserved a celebration that reflected how much Uganda's comedy industry has grown.

Diamond Platnumz Performing During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya 2

Unfortunately, the evening felt like a missed opportunity. The comedians struggled to demonstrate how far the industry has come, while the musicians supplied much of the excitement and Diamond's late appearance became the night's biggest talking point.

Revelers All Looking Excited On Seeing Diamond Platnumz Come On Stage During Comedy Store Ug Retro Tour At Lugogo Cricket Oval. Photo By Ignatius Kamya

Ultimately, Comedy Store at 10 celebrated longevity, but longevity alone is not enough. After a decade in the game, audiences expect more than familiar punchlines. They want comedy that surprises them, challenges them and, most importantly, makes them laugh.