First-ever Somali comedy show draws hundreds to Two Rivers Mall

Two Rivers Mall was abuzz last Saturday as hundreds gathered to witness the first-ever Somali comedy show in Kenya.

The event, which featured a variety of performances, captivated a mostly youthful audience with cultural dances, music, short films, and an array of comic skits.

The show's performers included King Ojalia, who impressed the crowd with his Bongo dancing moves. Following him was Yaaqub Sultan, whose jokes left the audience in stitches. The lively comedian, Najma, also took the stage. The Sheeko Kale team staged two plays, including one about the current trend of young women wanting to marry wealthy men.

Dressed in his now-famous oversized coat and kikoi and with a walking stick, comedian Bahali Yake was the master of the ceremonies. His humorous interludes kept the crowd entertained between performances.

MC Jessy from the Churchill Show also made an appearance, making jokes about the Somali community's influence on his Ameru community and the surprise of many Kenyans upon learning about Somali musicians and DJs from abroad.

"You have DJs and musicians from abroad, Kenyans thought you guys don't sing," he noted.

Then he made a humorous remark: "If the Somalis stopped eating miraa, we the Meru community will be bankrupt." This elicited laughter from the audience.

Nairobi-based musician Hassan Gantaal performed several of his well-known songs, including "Qaali Luula," "Malab," and "Markaad ila joogtid". His performance was well received, and the crowd sang along to his tunes.

DJ Zuber, who flew in for the event, kept the energy high with his music.

Nasra Comedian, a popular figure on the Kenyan comedy scene, also made a grand entrance.

Carried on a white sofa by four men, she wore a red dress known as a guntiino, a traditional Somali outfit that was perfectly fitting. She made several jokes about Eastleigh, describing it as a city within a city.

Nasra highlighted how the Somali community has invested in and transformed Eastleigh into a busy commercial hub.

She also talked about the evolution of Somali music, comparing older songs like King Khalid's "Dunida adaan kaa rabaa", a pop song expressing love and longing, to contemporary rap songs like

Sharma Boy's "Caga dhigo", which features themes of violence and grudges

The song is popular among the Somali youth and has garnered 25 million views on YouTube since it was released 11 months ago.

Nasra's performance was one of the highlights of the evening. She discussed the romantic nature of Somali men, citing research to support her claim, though the audience's reactions were mixed.

She also expressed her happiness about the success of the event, noting that it was the first time a Somali comedy show of that scale had been held in Kenya.

"This is the first time we are doing a Somali comedy show, thank you for showing we are one people," she said, drawing applause from the crowd. Nasra also expressed her support for the Palestinian cause.

She returned to the stage wearing clothes made from the Palestinian flag and asked the audience to stand up in solidarity with Palestinians.

Songs like Maher Zain's "Palestine Will Be Free" were sung to show their support for all those affected by the bombardment of Palestine by Israel.

The star of the night was Suldaan Seeraar, whose performance was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. His songs, routines and engaging stage presence left a lasting impression on the audience.

He performed several of his well-known songs, including "Mataanti jacaylka", "Isma Ogi", "Jamasho", and others. The audience was thrilled, dancing for nearly two hours.

At one point, Suldaan was seen intervening to save a young man who had come on stage to dance with him from being removed by security personnel. In the middle of one of his songs, Suldaan brought the young man back on stage and gestured to the security to let him stay.

This act was met with applause from the audience, who were delighted by the actions of the star musician. The purchasing power of the community was evident once again going by the entry charges.

A regular ticket was going for Sh2,000, a VIP ticket for Sh5,000, and a VVIP ticket for Sh15,000.

Despite the high prices, the venue was full, including the VIP and VVIP sections. Tickets were available for purchase at the entrance, allowing anyone to buy them before entry.

Some of the attendees told The Eastleigh Voice that they had a great time and hoped the event would not be the last of its kind.

Sumeya Ahmed said she had travelled from Nakuru to attend the show.

"The moment I saw the preparations on TikTok, I knew I couldn't miss it. I came here in the afternoon from Nakuru just for this show. It was amazing," she said.

Hafsa Abdullahi, another attendee, said she came to see her favourite musician, Suldaan Seerar, whom she described as the best musician alive. "His songs are so good. I couldn't miss seeing him perform live," she said.

The event also attracted several Kenyans from other communities. Daniel Ndambuki, popularly known as Churchill, was present, along with some other comedians, though they were among the audience.

The event was a significant milestone for the Somali community in Kenya, showcasing their rich cultural heritage and talent. It was a night of laughter, music, and cultural pride, setting a precedent for future Somali comedy shows in Kenya.