[ 2014-08-07 ]

Stop the “negative campaign” against Ghanaian comedians -DKB
Until his performance at last Saturday’s 1018
Laughs event, not many lovers of stand-up comedy
had taken DKB as a “serious” comedian. But the
loud and sustained applause that greeted him at
the Accra International Conference Centre was
enough testimony that he had arrived and could rub
shoulders with the big boys of the genre.
An elated DKB, real name, Derrick Kobina Bonney
who spoke to Showbiz on Tuesday couldn’t hide
his pride after what he claimed was a
“revengeful motivation” from his critics whose
disregard for him spurred him on to put up the
good performance.
He said that even though he had confidence in
himself, some of the messages he received and read
online prior to the show were rather discouraging
to his person.
He said he was however poised not to disappoint
the “many eyes” that were on him and he looked
forward to nothing short of a good show.
“Since Saturday, I have been receiving
congratulatory messages. I never knew Ghanaians
were that much interested in comedy. I knew
Ghanaians loved comedy but the calibre and sort of
people who have sent messages to congratulate me
is evidence that many Ghanaians appreciate what we
are doing.
“I won’t hide the fact that I was initially
nervous when I came on stage but I overcame that
feeling and told myself I had to make Ghanaians
proud of their own comedians and that was a
personal assignment I had to undertake on the
night” , he said.


Despite the fact that DKB has been applauded for
the great show he put up, some critics have also
expressed concern about his emphasis on his rather
“unpolished jokes” on the night. But DKB
didn’t take it lightly when the question was put
to him.
“I don’t know what was vulgar or unpolished
about my jokes on the night. I have read all those
opinions and think it is rather unfair to me. I
was only reflecting on the typical character and
behaviour of the various tribes in Ghana. What I
said about the people of the Ga tribe is what they
are known for. I am a Ga myself so I knew what I
was talking about.
“When we talk like this, we make it seem like I
didn’t put up a great show because some of these
Nigerian comedians crack jokes on sex and more but
we think it is okay. Perhaps, the messages in some
of my jokes were not well interpreted,” he
said.
Last Saturday night was not DKB’s first
appearance on the platform of the 1000 Laughs
series. He was on the bill in 2010 but he was not
given that much recognition compared to last
Saturday’s performance because he was new in the
game at the time.
For now, if there is anything DKB it would want
Ghanaians to do for comedians, is that they stop
the “negative campaign” against them and
support them.
He said that often, the media had been the worst
culprit of the “crime” of telling negative
stories about Ghanaian comedians when many of them
have not even had the opportunity to watch any of
their acts.
He threw the challenge to such critics to come and
witness the new breed of comedians being groomed
in the comedy fraternity at the Comedy Bar which
is held at the Silver Lounge of the Accra Mall at
the end of every month.
“I am not saying that they should sing our
praises. That is not it at all. My only problem is
that they should also not criticise us so harshly
when they don’t have evidence to back their
criticism.”
DKB, the current host of Boys Boys on Viasat 1 who
represented Ghana in the Big Brother Africa Star
Game in 2012 and also on the M-net Comedy Club in
Uganda said his performance last Saturday was not
just a flash in the pan.
He said he had mastered the act of stand-up comedy
since 2005 and just needed the right platform to
“reveal” his worth in that field.
He admitted that the 1000 series platform was a
huge one and he couldn’t have messed up when
given such a great opportunity.

Source - Daily Graphic

... go Back