Comedian Alex Muhangi has blamed the decline in the quality of comedy in Uganda on poor writing and a lack of creativity among some performers.
Muhangi, who has spent nearly two decades in the comedy industry, has contributed to its growth through platforms such as Comedy Store, which has helped provide a stage for comedians and other entertainers.
Speaking in an interview with a local television station, Muhangi said comedians in the past were expected to produce fresh material regularly, unlike today, when some performers have become too comfortable.
“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 in part.
Muhangi acknowledged that today’s comedians are putting in effort but argued that they need to improve their writing and creativity to raise the standard of comedy.
He also commented on the growing trend of featuring musicians on comedy stages, suggesting that the practice is largely intended to attract bigger audiences and boost ticket sales.