Napoleone talks comedy, empowering young people 

Napoleone Ehmah, real name Emmanuel Otim, is a stand-up comedian and former radio presenter, who told Nathan Atiluk about his funny job and latest projects. The comedian is also venturing into helping youths in eastern and northern Uganda under a project called EYOTAB.

Napoleone. Haven’t you had issues concerning that name?

No issues with the name Emmanuel Otim, but some people have had an issue with the stage name Napoleone; they believe Napoleon Bonaparte was an over-ambitious dictator and wonder why I like him.

[That is the name I use in my comedy ventures]. I have two annual shows in my homeland of Soroti; ‘The King Comes Home’, every Easter Sunday and ‘Kings Of Comedy’ every 23rd of December, then a number of shows upcountry every one or two months, and some shows abroad, majorly in Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa, who have really embraced my craft.

What is your comedy background?

I was always involved in stage work right from primary school; but to specialize in comedy, that was at Makerere High School in my Senior Five. I then continued with comedy projects at Uganda Christian University where I founded a comedy club called The Filosofaz.

It was through that comedy club that I fine-tuned my craft, and that coincided with the coming of MultiChoice’s Stand-up Uganda Comedy Competition, which opened the way for stand-up comedy to become mainstream entertainment in Uganda. It is from here that I teamed up with successful contestants like Salvado, Daniel Omara, Pablo and crew, and together we became The Crackers.

UCU! Yet some Ugandans still think comedians are not educated…

With a Bachelor of Arts in Education honours degree, I passed so well; I even turned down the chance to become a tutor at UCU. We have books, my friend. The English-speaking comedians are all educated. It is the ‘other fellows’ who are giving us the uneducated tag.

Recently Uganda was ranked fifth in the world among the beer-consuming countries…

Yep, Ugandans can drink. The day they start regulating drinking hours in Uganda, the regime can even change.

What brand do you drink?

Well, surprisingly to many people, I don’t drink alcohol. The one time I drank, I was with Patrick Salvado and friends; Salvado secretly and playfully put some whiskey in my soda. When I downed the soda, I turned to Lydia Jazmine and vibed her.

I told her I was going to take her to America to hide her from Kampala men. I told her I wanted to be the one to [take] her virginity. In return I would secure for her a collabo with Beyonce.

Recently you started up a new youth project. Are you leaving comedy to focus on it?

It is called EYOTAB which is an abbreviation for Empowering Youth through Talent Building. It is a project I am doing in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. For the next one year, I will lead a team of people who will help develop the raw talents of aspiring creatives in Teso and Lango.

Youth between 18 and 35 years of age will be trained in music, comedy, graphics design and videography. I am not leaving comedy; I am just developing more young people to come join me in the arts industry.
 
Who would you rank as Uganda’s best comedian?

Napoleone Ehmah. But if I have to exclude myself, it is Patrick Salvado. That brother is something else on stage, man.

What is the best joke you have heard?

That Museveni can turn into a cat or rat or crocodile and hear everything you are saying. That dude really played on our minds when we were young. No wonder we fear to publicly oppose the man.

How is your life outside comedy?

I am a hands-on father; always in touch with my children. I stay home unless I am going out for a show or an important meet-up. I am a football fan who enjoys it on TV and play every evening in a compound near my home.

Do you have a favourite dish?

Sweet potatoes and any greens like emalakany, ecadoi and eboo.

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