Go underground!

Check out Tanzania’s first Comedy Club in Dar

Tanzania has its first comedy club ‘The Punchline’. The striking basement club in Dar es Salaam is showcasing local talents, new freedom and good vibes. 

Follow the laughter and you’ll find the intimate club on the basement floor of The Cube which overlooks Msasani Bay alongside the chic restaurants and hotels of the city’s bustling, arty Slipway neighbourhood – definitely worth a visit on a trip to the mainland even for tourists who will get a good idea of what Tanzania is laughing about.

Shows in Zanzibar

Punchline artists have already performed in Zanzibar and hope to return. Looking like famous comedy clubs in Manhattan or Hackney, the velvety club with a capacity of close to 100 people, a fully stocked bar, brick walls and sophisticated lighting, offers finger food, prepared and brought to your table by waiting staff from Fishmongers Restaurant, which is next door in the building. Guests can sit near the stage or lounge in some sumptuous booths at the back of the room set on elevated platforms to ensure a good view of the performing artists.  

The founders Ahmed Dahal and Evans Bukuku, both passionate comedians themselves, have a proven record of planting the seeds of comedy culture in Tanzania. They started hosting pop-up events at various locations about five years ago. Punchline Africa has since then organised over 300 shows, 30 workshops and writer’s rooms and had over 30 artist exchanges from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, and South Sudan amongst others. 

The fixed location grants totally new possibilities.  Bukuku says it was important “to get that underground comedy vibe just right” for the club. “The fact that it is a basement club plays a big role” he says, “we modelled it on comedy clubs abroad where you escape the world for a moment.” Ahmed Dahal, aviation expert by profession, says: “Comedy is like therapy.”

How far can comedy go? While some Tanzanian performers mention “politics and religion” as no-go-areas, Deogratius Mboya aka Deo Gratius, a lawyer by qualification and known from his platform “Cheka Tu”, argues that “humour cuts through tension.” Asked about his sensitive topics, he said: “The answer is the same worldwide: How much can you get away with? Is it funny? Is it relatable? Is it the right context?”

Among the other talents to watch out for: Leonard Datus Butindi aka Leonardo influenced by Eddie Murphy, featuring dark humour and deadpan comedy. He said: “As a comedian who rises from Africa, there are certain topics that are somewhat sensitive to talk about. However, I try to find ways to talk about each and every topic, in a technical and presentable way.” Another upcoming talent is Grace Manga aka Neyla, one of Tanzania’s rare female comedians, with her witty takes on relationship issues. Originally from Musoma, she started comedy out of passion and learnt from watching comedy shows. She eventually participated in competitions. Abdul Yusuph aka Pepe started his comedy journey through a local comedy competition called ‘Ze Comedy’. Out of 700 entrants, ten made the cut with Pepe among them.

Artists perform in English and Swahili. To co-owner Bukuku the club’s inclusive, welcoming atmosphere with a good stage view is key to its appeal: “Here is a space where you can sit comfortably and laugh together at the good and bad times – relationships, jobs, current affairs – and see the humanity in one another. It is so important to let go and let loose.”

Punchline offers open mic shows on Tuesdays, Punchline RAW in English and Kiswahili on Fridays, and many more specials.  

Information:
@tzpunchline on Instagram.

#Extracts with permission of  PAA, Precision Airline Inflight magazine.