Ghanaian Comedy: The Rising Everlasting Industry

"Ghanaian comedians are boring. They have nothing good to offer."

From left to right: DKB, Romanus,
Mr & Mrs Ajeezay, Khemikal and Halfco

Really!!!! But I thought Ghanaians are noted for having a high sense of humour so how come their comedians are not funny? Or Ghanaians are funny except their comedians? Then why are they called comedians if they are not funny?
I thought comedians are funny people. This is very complicated though.

It hurts to hear people under-rate Ghanaian comedy and I wonder how many Ghanaian comedians they even know. Even if they have heard of popular names, have they listened to or watched any Ghanaian comedian?

I blame them not since they started enjoying comedy at a time when Nigerians flooded our comedy industry. We paid huge amounts of money to bring Nigerians for shows. Meanwhile, talents were unearthed here and were getting rusted while we polished that of Nigerians'. In this article today, I pay tribute to all those who are fighting hard to keep the  flame of Ghanaian comedy burning,

Growing up, I watched a lot of Nigerian comedy and I enjoyed them.Then there was Fritz and Friends produced by Hon. Fritz Baffour which was really thrilling but didn't stay for long. KSM so far has had the longest sitcom in the country, undoubtedly making him the godfather of comedy. He has spurred a lot of young people on and this is has led to the breed of a new generation of Ghanaian comedians. I got more into Ghanaian comedy after a young man by name David Oscar decided to produce Laugh A Minute together with some comedian friends of his. Without doubt, it was one of the best sitcoms in the country especially when he always showed up with his wife, Madam Kplems (I stand to be corrected with the spelling) which was acted by DKB. Unfortunately, it didn't last but they never gave up and embarked on a nationwide tour as comedians under the Corporate Comedy Series and even had the endorsement of KSM and Daddy Boat. This in a way has seen the return and unearthing of some comedians like of David Oscar, DKB, Foster Romanus, Khemikal, Ajeezay, Sarkodie Acheampong  and many others I can't mention. In order to debunk the assertion that Ghanaian comedy is not funny, they began going out to schools and charged very low fees. This is the main reason why the DKB Live Show is becoming the best in Ghana gradually. 

It is sad how most media do not follow these comedians and tag them as boring with nothing interesting to provide. Late last year when DKB was billed to make his first major appearance among other well known comedians, the media was full of doubt if this big headed boy knew what it takes to thrill a crowd aside slapping. He didn't let us down and gave us a wonderful show. Then the same people who said, " Crucify him" now said, "Crown him with many crowns". We didn't believe in DKB because we are so used to comedy movies with the likes of Kwaku Manu, Lil Win, Funny Face, Bismark the Joke, not forgetting Agya Koo. Even with them they still do comedy and they are Ghanaians so why would some stomach journalist say we have boring comedians. The media is an industry killer. They did it to music but now what do we see? A strong and competitive music industry. How many of them attend such functions? The truth about comedy is, you must be able to relate to the joke else it ain't funny. I love comedy but I never enjoy American stand-up comedies cos I can't relate to it. So how do we as Ghanaians relate to the Warri people as used by Nigerian comedians? Imagine being told a joke about the Nima community, a place every Ghanaian knows, won't we relate perfectly to it than the Warri we always hear about? When Ghanaian comedians make good jokes about the dumsor and other social issues happening in Ghana, we sit down and call them dry. For Christ sake youtube is still active. Check them out.

On the 27th of March, 2015, DKB and friends made a stop at the University of Cape Coast after  visiting other tertiary institutions in the country. I, after watching several performances of his decided to watch him perform live. He, together with Ajeezay, Foster Romanus and Lexzy (a new breed) put up a splendid performance and got everyone going like, "You guys are crazy." We enjoyed every bit of it and it's been the talk of campus. If possible, Ghanaian comedians can organise one big event at the Independence Square for free to give people a taste of what they have been missing for so long. Gather journalists and perform for them to shut them up. We love Nigerian comedy but none of us know what went into it being what it is now. 

Whether we like it or not, the Ghanaian comedy industry has come to stay and it's about time we supported our own and stopped paying expensively for foreign comedians in our shows. i am glad that after DKB's splendid performance, he is now one of the hottest cakes as long as events are concerned. I support the movement for the promotion of Ghanaian Comedy. The Ministry in charge of arts, culture and entertainment should be up and doing and add comedy to a series of programme line-ups during week long celebrations. The best laughter you can have as a Ghanaian can only come from a Ghanaian comedian. Let's champion this cause and support our comedians just like we have done for our musicians and the music industry is now firm. Let us honour our comedians now not when they are dead. If you want to know if
Ghanaian comedy exists and enjoy the best of it, then make it to the Comedy
Bar at Silver Lounge and you would never regret it.

Praise we the peaceful men of skill,
Who builded homes of beauty,
And, rich in art, made richer still
The brotherhood of duty.

- William G. Tarrant 

(from the popular hymn, Now Praise We Great and Famous Men)

This piece is dedicated to all Ghanaian comedians whether sitcom, stand-up or movies keeping the industry going.  #ILoveGhComedy