How did your journey into comedy and acting begin?
It all started when I was in secondary school. I would act funnily in class; my classmates would laugh and continue to tell me that I was funny. I then decided to join the drama club in school and during club time, we would present the drama we had for the week to my peers.
I would also buy the CDs of Night of a Thousand Laugh, see them and retell the jokes to my classmates who would burst into fits of laughter. After I left school, I kept on nurturing the craft and here I am today.
How did the name Koloman come to be?
I was given the name by the guys in the area I lived before, Igando, due to the funny way I acted. Whenever my street friends saw me act funnily, they would begin to say, “Kolo, koloman”. As they kept calling me that, I considered that it was not a bad name so I decided to keep using it.
What movie brought you into the limelight?
I started as an actor with My Flatmates it was after that I began getting other movie roles.
Comedians are increasingly becoming actors, is this now a fad?
Well, it is a phase and it came up because of skit makers. If one is online, one would find different skits and the skit makers are doing well. So, comedians looked at it and thought since we do standup comedy, we could also act.
I must tell you, comedians are good actors. The difference between us and skit makers is that only a few skit makers can do standup comedy. That is the reason you see almost everyone who does standup comedy would say that I act as well. It is a phase that we are into now; we are facing it and enjoy doing it.
What challenges did you face on your way to stardom?
The challenge I had was that because I was not known, even when my colleagues referred me for shows, the hosts would say they did not know me. So I needed to prove myself so I could be accepted. I could understand the situation then but I kept on pushing, doing extraordinary work and proving myself as the right person.
How do you make people laugh at the same time when you have challenges?
If I have any challenges and maybe I am called for an event, I forget about them at the time. It is a difficult thing to do but I had to train myself for that because, in life, one must face challenges and the ability to handle them is what matters. The event hosts are waiting for results, whether you have challenges or not.
So, for me, I keep my mind off it and when I am done, I can pick it up.
How do you juggle being a comedian, event compere and actor?
It is difficult trying to carry and showcase different talents. Sometimes, one affects and clashes with the other. But because it is something one has decided to do, one has to keep on pushing.
What has stardom deprived you of?
It has deprived me of living my normal life. Before fame, I would board public transport, stand by the roadside and eat roast corn but because of the level where I am now, I try to be conscious of what I do.
Are you still friends with those with you before stardom?
Yes, but not with all. Twenty friends cannot be together for 20 years. I have my old friends who I still reach out to and can still call me at any time.
How do you handle advances from female fans?
It is normal that once one is a public figure, one is meant to experience these things. I try as much as possible to manage them well. Though I can’t reply to every message on social media from my fans expressing their likening and love for me, the ones I can reply to, I thank them for their gestures and manage them well so they don’t get angry.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m working on my first stand-up comedy show that’ll be coming up next year.
What is your advice to up-and-coming comedians and actors?
First, you have to believe in yourself. Also, you have to understand that the talent was given to you by God and put God first.
