This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
Meet Mulamwah, Kenya's Rising Comedy Star ¶
David Oyando, better known as Mulamwah, has taken the Kenyan comedy scene by storm. The 26-year-old comedian from Kitale has been making waves with his unique accent-laden skits, and we sat down with him to learn more about his journey to stardom.
Before becoming a full-time comedian, Mulamwah was a nurse, graduating from Moi University in 2017 with a degree in nursing. He also completed his internship at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
So, how did Mulamwah cross paths with comedy? He's been a fan of comedy for as long as he can remember, and his love for the craft only grew stronger when he joined campus in 2012. He started doing stand-up comedy in campus every Sunday and later formed an acting group in church, where they made skits and acted them during Sunday services.
After linking with a group of comedians in Eldoret who majored in wedding emceeing, roadshows, and events hosting, Mulamwah started a comedy club in Eldoret that he was part of for around two years. He even tried to audition for the Churchill Show, but unfortunately, he didn't have the means to attend auditions.
Undeterred, Mulamwah decided to try and make his own clips and share them online. To his surprise, they went viral, and here he is today.
So, what inspires Mulamwah's accent-laden skits? The people in the place he stays and his native language are his biggest inspirations. He also draws inspiration from his daily activities, interactions, and things he sees on TV news.
As a newbie in the comedy industry, Mulamwah has faced his fair share of challenges. He doesn't have proper equipment, and sometimes there's a lot of discouragement from some people. However, he overcomes this by just being himself and focusing on making people happy.
At some point, Mulamwah even sold his phone just to travel for auditions. The journey has not been easy, but he's determined to keep going.
So, how does Mulamwah juggle between his comedy craft and other obligations? He has a work plan, and everything follows the schedule. In a single shoot, they can make videos that last a month, giving him the freedom to do other things like attending shows, interviews, and taking care of his family.
Do you think online comedy is stronger than what we currently have on the mainstream platforms? Mulamwah believes that online comedy is the future. It's vast and growing fast, thanks to the increasing accessibility of smartphones and the internet.
Has Mulamwah's craft presented new opportunities for him? Yes, doors have opened, and he's been able to activate and advertise many brands on his platform. He's also been able to put food on the table, and he's hopeful that he'll strike bigger deals in the future.
So, what's next for Mulamwah? He's started a YouTube channel featuring a series called The Love Triangle, which has been received well. He's looking forward to putting up more hilarious content and closing more lucrative deals.
Finally, what would Mulamwah tell those people who look up to him for inspiration? He'd say that making people laugh is as easy as it is hard. Being unique, current, and having scenes and acts that people can relate to makes you stand out. Ignore negativity and trust the process; Rome wasn’t built in a day. Everything is possible, however hard it may seem.
