Renown Kenyan comedian Chipukeezy has revealed what has endured in a bid to transform himself into an international brand.
The entertainer has recounted how his dream to go global was halted for a couple of times – being denied Visa to the USA on three different occasions, but he refused to give up.
After an impressive three-year career since he joined Churchill Show, Vincent Muasya Mutua became the first Kenyan entertainer to showcase his rib-cracking ability at the Open-Mic Show in Dallas, Texas in the US.
Besides performing in the States early this year, Chipukeezy got a rare chance of rubbing shoulders with one of America’s top stand-up comedians, Kevin Hart, who he describes as a “comedy idol”.
Even though his tour to the US was the “biggest moment of his life”, getting an opportunity to board an airbus to the World Super Power nation never came easy, he recounts.
“It has been a memorable journey. At some point, I broke down on the flight. I must have been the only African on board, having also met some of the biggest comedians in America,” Chipukizeey said during a recent interview on NTV.
“At some point I was frustrated. I really wanted to perform in America but on three occasions I was denied a Visa. It was a really challenging moment,” he recalled.
Chipukeezy advices the youth to be go getters and fight for opportunities instead of waiting to be invited to the table of men.
The entertainer gives an example of musician Charles Kanyi aka Jaguar, who was recently elected Starehe MP, after fighting hard to earn it.
Chipukeezy will return to the USA later this year and will emcee the Africa Music Award (AFRIMA) gala in Dallas. Besides comedy, Chipukeezy is also an emcee and a radio presenter.
Chipukizeey usa/U.K./France…
Chipukizeey usa/U.K./France is not heaven my brother.Africans we remains big idiots why is it a big deal to go to this countries which I call Sodom n gormolla coz of the stinking things which go thru there.Millions in Africa who have good life n money don’t desire to go in this countries so bro yes it took u few times to get the visa but u should not sound like u were so desparate or yr life could have ended if u didn’t get it.I know my fred who went there 12 times until every interviewer akamjua,11 yrs later he is languishing in poverty in Philadelphia after leaving a very good comfortable life n job in Kenya n many r not languishing in poverty but they r leaving kinda hussle life.i know hyners here will continue to say I was deported which is bullshit coz I was not,actually I returned my us pp 3 months ago coz I don’t need it for various reasons??But my point is n remains u don’t have to go leave or visit west so u can become somebody in life.Big big lie.
Mwakilishi,I concur with you…
Mwakilishi,I concur with you about USA not being heaven,but for a different reason. See, it is very hard for an african to crack into USA entertainment business.Iam sure this Chipukiseey,whatever his name is would not make americans laugh on saturday night live.Comedy material are cultural in nature.Chipu would be served better if he built his base in africa where the masses can identify with his jokes.It took me awhile to find american jokes amusing.
Is it not too ago on this Mwakilishi forum a kenya entertainer was complaining that black americans “exclude” africans in their contests?
Many african musicians/entertainers have come to the USA and tried to cross over or win americans with their entertainment and have failed miserably.From my experience, africans do well when their audience if african,and even with that, west africans will go to see a west african entertainer first before they could see one from east africa.They also do well where there is acultural even ,of international magnitude.
To crack in to the american industry Chipu will have to work really had for there are many things against him,language,culture,connections,xenophobia to mention afew.