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12 Things You Didn’t Know About Ugandan Comedian Anne Kansiime

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Ugandan Comedian Anne Kansiime

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Anne Kansiime, “Africa’s Queen of Comedy,” has had quite the rise to fame. Beginning as a YouTube celebrity in her home country of Uganda, she has transformed into an international star. She’s racked up awards including Teeniez Funniest Comedian (2016), the African Entertainment Award for Best Comedian (2015), Rising Star Comedian of the Year (2015), and dozens of others. Here’s an inside look at quick-tongued Anne Kansiime, one of the funniest comedians in the business.

Sources: Kansiime Anne, New Vision, Big Eye, Kansiime Anne Interview, SNMS Live

Kansiime was encouraged to pursue a degree in social work by her parents, not the degree path she would have chosen for herself Red Pepper
Kansiime’s parents encouraged her to study social work. Red Pepper

She has a bachelor’s degree in social science, much to her chagrin

Kansiime attended Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in Uganda, where she earned a bachelor of arts in social science. She wanted to study music, dance and drama at university, but her parents would not allow it.

Kansiime with various members of her family Chano 8
Kansiime with various members of her family. Chano 8

Kansiime considers herself the unfunniest member of her family

Kansiime attributes her sense of humor to her parents, and maintains that she is the least funny person in her family. She remembers friends coming over to her house when she was younger and leaving in tears laughing at the things that would come out of her parents’ mouths.

Kansiime's stage presence helped her achieve early success at Theatre Factory Kansiime Anne.ug
Kansiime’s stage presence helped her achieve early success at Theatre Factory. Kansiime Anne.ug

Kansiime joined the “Theatre Factory” while at university

As an undergrad in 2007, Kansiime got involved with the Theatre Factory, a group that performed drama skits at the Uganda National Theatre in Kampala. After the group disbanded, she continued on with its replacement, “Fun Factory,” and also appeared on several TV shows such as “Barbed Wire,” “U-Turn,” and “MiniBuzz” on NTV.

Kansiime's found her start on YouTube, and her channel now boasts over 310,000 followers Dignited
Kansiime’s found her start on YouTube. Her channel now has 310,000 followers. Dignited

She was encouraged by early comedic success on YouTube

After posting some of her own sketch comedy skits on YouTube, Kansiime was encouraged by the positive feedback she received. She began to post more and more videos, and her videos continue to receive thousands of views each month.

Kansiime at the Face of a Child Foundation in Zambia Kansiime Anne.ug
Kansiime at the Face of a Child Foundation in Zambia. Kansiime Anne.ug

There is a clinic in Zambia named after Kansiime

The Face of a Child Kansiime Anne Relief clinic in Zambia provides medical services to residents of small villages — a cause close to Kansiime’s heart. She continually donates to the clinic because, as she put it, “I never thought that would ever happen to me.”

Source: Kansiime Anne Interview

"Don't Mess With Kansiime" has helped launch the comedian to stardom Maisha Magic East
“Don’t Mess With Kansiime” show helped launch her to stardom. Maisha Magic East

She launched her own show, “Don’t Mess With Kansiime,” in 2014

Citizen TV in Kenya offered Kansiime the opportunity to produce, star, and present her own weekly comedy show in 2014. She now hosts “Don’t Mess With Kansiime” on Maisha Magic, and has earned a reputation for her brash and outspoken characters.

Fellow comedian Cotilda Inapo is Kansiime's head writer on "Don't Mess With Kansiime" Girl Skilling It Foundation
Fellow comedian Cotilda Inapo is Kansiime’s head writer on “Don’t Mess With Kansiime”
Girl Skilling It Foundation

Kansiime began by writing her own scripts but now has a team of writers

When her show first began, Kansiime wrote all of her own scripts, but eventually sought outside help as the demand became too much to handle. She now hires a team of creative writers and local comedians to come up with the material, headed by Cotilda Inapo, a fellow Ugandan stand-up comedian.

Never one to back down from a fight, Kansiime initiated a lawsuit against Telecom for using her likeness and voice without permission News UGO
Not one to back down from a fight, Kansiime initiated a lawsuit against Uganda Telecom for using her likeness and voice without permission. News UGO

She is in the middle of a copyright suit against Uganda Telecom

Kansiime filed a copyright suit against Uganda Telecom, as well as two local broadcast stations, NBS and WBS, for using her image, voice and likeness in an ad to promote their own product without her consent. The case is ongoing.

Kansiime and her manager hubby, Ojok Big Eye
Kansiime and her manager hubby, Gerald Ojok Big Eye

Her husband quit his teaching job to become Kansiime’s manager

Kansiime’s husband, Gerald Ojok, previously worked as a lecturer at Kyambogo University, but left his post to manage his wife’s career in Uganda. She has another manager, Johnson Mujungu, who takes care of her international affairs.

The happy couple hopes to have children in the next few years Sqoop
The happy couple hopes to have children in the next few years. Sqoop

She and her husband plan on having children soon

Kansiime and Ojok are excited to have children, and are working hard to ensure they are able to do so in the next few years. The two love children, and Kansiime hopes to release a music album for children later this year.

Kansiime and her mother, her biggest inspiration Chano 8
Kansiime and her mother, her biggest inspiration. Chano 8

Her mom is her greatest inspiration

In an interview, Kansiime named her mom as her greatest inspiration, “If she’d gone professional, she’d be the best comedian in the world. She never loses an argument, she’s extremely witty, you can never catch her off guard, she will find something to say, so she definitely inspires me.”

Source: Kansiime Anne Interview

Kansiime owns her "Africanness" in every part of her life, including her comedy Kansiime Anne.ug
Kansiime owns her “Africanness” in every part of her life, including her comedy. Kansiime Anne.ug

Kansiime owns her “Africanness” in her comedy

Despite much of her material focusing on her life as a Ugandan woman, Kansiime’s comedy resonates with an international audience. She has performed successful shows in England, Malaysia, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, and Kenya. “People, let’s be ourselves. Let’s own our ‘Africanness’ because trust if we all start being proud of who we are, the Kim Kardashians of the world will be out of business.”
Source: Kansiime Anne Interview