Akite Agnes, a celebrated Ugandan comedian, commemorated her decade-long journey in the comedy industry last Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the National Theatre. Known for her unique style and clean humour, Akite began her comedy career in 2014 with The Punch liners and has since graced various platforms across Uganda, from Comedy Files and Comedy Store to Africa Laughs. Her success has also taken her internationally, performing in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and the USA.
In 2019, Akite launched The Arise Woman Comedy Jam, an annual show bringing together established and rising female comedians, giving them a platform to shine. Her consistency in the industry has made her a household name, not only in comedy but also in the film industry as well.
To celebrate her ten-year milestone, Akite hosted a one-man show titled Son of Opio. The night was smoothly kicked off by host Richard Tuwangye, who entertained and kept the audience engaged. The opening featured the ZKR Band, followed by saxophonist Happy Kyazze, and a poetry performance by Brandy the Poet.
The comedy lineup began with Jordan Nasasira, whose impressive act earned him a spot-on Fun Factory’s Comedicine the following day. Alphonse Obalim followed afterward, joking about how spaghetti was invented in Atiak, and Dr. Hillary Okello brought his signature style to the stage, ensuring a night filled with laughter.
Around 9:30 PM, Akite made her entrance amid a cloud of smoke, emerging from below the stage to Eminem’s Lose Yourself. Dressed in boots, baggy pants, and a hoodie (which she tossed to the crowd), she rapped along, setting the tone for a dynamic performance. She opened with a recount of her near-death experience last year in November, mixing humour with heartfelt gratitude, which resonated with the crowd. The story of singing Alien Skin’s Sitya Danger right before an unexpected encounter with thieves struck a chord, balancing suspense with comedy.
Akite then took the audience back to her childhood, sharing the origins of her title Son of Opio. With the parents having given birth consecutively to girls, her father had expected his fifth child would be a boy, but was surprised to find it was a girl. The title, Akite explained with pride, was a humorous nod to her father’s expectations.
For an hour and a half, Akite had the crowd in stitches, moving fluidly between stories of growing up, nightlife, relationships, and motherhood. She closed the night with gratitude, acknowledging her supporters, particularly the groups Sisterhood, Pombe, and BBK. She then brought her family onstage, introducing her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Helen Opio, along with her siblings Richard, Mary, Harriet, and Emmanuel, showcasing the family’s solid support for her career. Mr Opio then thanked the crowd for coming to support his daughter.
The show’s seamless flow was credited to producer and director Timothy J Nyanzi, who also produced Rich Friends Poor Family by Okello Okello. Nyanzi’s vision of a simple and minimalistic stage concept with a backdrop of fairy lights running down to meet the waist high placards of Son of Opio, that EXP Impressions had built, allowed Akite’s humour to take centre stage, making for an engaging and well-coordinated production.
As the night concluded, fans left affirming that Son of Opio lived up to the hype, providing a memorable night and value for their money.
