Kenyans are buzzing with excitement as popular American stand up comedian Dave Chapelle is set to perform in Nairobi.
Tickets for the highly anticipated event cost Kshs7,000 and they were sold out within 2hours of an announcement about the event by Comedy Punchline.
A source, who spoke to a local media outlet also revealed that only 300 people will be attending the event and that Chapelle had even wished to perform for only 100 people.
“The small and intimate venue was a condition set by Dave. He even wanted it to be for a smaller audience of 100. So even 300 was a push,” the source revealed.
The event will be going down on May 29 at the Louis Leakey Auditorium. Kenyan comedian Lu Savali and Ciru Mwangi will perform at the show.
Just like in his other shows, Kenyans will also not be allowed to carry phones to the auditorium, a rule that has left Kenyans with mixed reactions safe for his diehard fans.
This ‘controversial rule’ is seen as an aim to protect his intellectual property. Also it seeks to ensure that the audience concentrates on the performance rather than being distracted by their phones, for instant interaction and responses. Those who fail to adhere to the rule are usually escorted out of the venue.
In 2023, when Chappelle saw one of the guests on their phone in Florida, he decided to terminate his act early.
Chappelle starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle of production during the third season.
After the hiatus, Chappelle returned to performing stand-up comedy across the U.S. By 2006, Chappelle was called the “comic genius of America” by Esquire and, in 2013, “the best” by a Billboard writer
In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 9 in their “50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time”.
Chappelle has appeared in various films, including Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Con Air (1997), You’ve Got Mail (1998), Blue Streak (1999), Undercover Brother (2002), Dave Chappelle’s Block Party (2005), Chi-Raq (2015) and A Star Is Born (2018).
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