In Conversation with Dennis Kaunda
- HOTA Team
- Aug 21
- 5 min read
Laughter is the best medicine; hence, comedy is the pharmacy. Comedians are the pharmacists who dispense special doses of laughter to all in attendance. The HOTA Team had a sit-down with one such individual — The Laughter Specialist, comedian Dennis Kaunda. Let's dive in so we get to know the man who gives us free therapy through laughter.
"My uncle scammed me! I only realized that boys can also use tissue paper when I was at college. Growing up, all we did was go into the bushes, take care of our business there with sand, sticks, or leaves because we knew tissues were for ladies. I then realized that my uncle made up that story to protect us from knowing that we were so poor we couldn’t afford toilet paper.
You see, my comedy is inspired by such stories; I turn those stories into humour, which has helped me stay positive. You will not find me depressed because I lean into making fun of things that would make others cry. Laughter is the best medicine."
Okay Mr Dennis, you have already made me laugh, and it’s wonderful. Thank you for your time and for sharing your world with us. So, let’s get to know you and your journey.
Who's Dennis?
I am an African family man, a father, and husband. Actually, Dennis Kaunda is my real name, not just a stage name. I am a comedian. I am also a qualified teacher, but I haven’t been employed as a teacher since I qualified.
Did your childhood influence who you are?
My parents are from Angola, but I was born and raised in Rundu – Namibia, in a Christian home. We are Seventh-day Adventist's and we never missed church.
Oh goodness, that's really Christian!
Yah, it is a strict one. So growing up, we did a lot of church dramas—Christian dramas based on biblical teachings. We didn't miss church camps, and these were our main entertainment, with singing, Bible quizzes, memory verse recitals, and drama. Looking back, I realise that this was a form of art.
Our family home is in Kehemu, and if we weren’t at school or church, we would play football in the streets. However, my uncle was very strict, and since most games were on Saturdays, we were not allowed to join because we would spend the whole day at church. Then on Sunday, we would go to church and have youth sports. Everything about my childhood and youth was connected to our church.
Did you feel you were limited in what you could do?
Yes, indeed. I am naturally a creative person, but due to the lack of opportunities here in Rundu, I didn’t do much with my talent. The first time I started doing drama was in 2009, when I was in Grade 10 at Alpo School. It was in commemoration of African Children's Day. I acted in the drama, and it was lovely and fun. That was the first and last time I heard about it. When I performed, I was one of the most outstanding actors, and it ignited a fire within me. Unfortunately, that was the first and last time I did acting.
Tertiary education.
After completing secondary school, I went to UNAM Rundu campus. I studied languages—English and Rukwangali. I did art, but the art here isn’t like art at other universities. Yeah, the art at UNAM campus wasn't really art! There was nothing like acting, creative arts, or visual arts. Basically, we did more acting when studying English literature—at least we did some stage acting. My inspiration was to pursue stand-up comedy, but it’s something I didn’t get to learn at college.
How did you develop your passion for comedy?
At school, we always played roasting games. We would leave classes to roast each other purely for fun, and I would always win these battles. My friends loved and enjoyed it; I would always have people around wanting to listen to me. They would then call someone to roast me. So, we did all those roasting battles. Yeah, I fell in love with it. Let’s just say I fell in love with comedy overall, as it brought so much laughter into my life.
The artistic journey.
I started doing comedy skits. One was about me selling in town; it was very popular on TikTok. I shifted from acting comedy skits to stand-up comedy because I observed something significant in Namibia. With this population, if someone is doing comedy skits online, all they get is fame, but no payment. You don’t earn money from it. I quickly changed my focus.
Could you share more about your journey as a stand-up comedian?
I began exploring Namibian comedians, and my first encounter was with Wilbard. I asked him about the comedy scene and how it’s doing in Namibia. I got his contact details, and he connected me with the current organiser for Savannah. In 2024, I had my first gig in Wernhill,
Did you immediately become famous?
This was a great opportunity for me to enter the comedy scene, but comedy was only popular in Windhoek and in the Coast (Swakopmund). However, I felt like a novice. I had a lot to learn, and I seized this chance to turn my passion into a career. I had to find my classroom without walls.
How did you grow your brand?
I started searching for gigs and took part in Open Mic sessions. These sessions required us to pay to perform, but I did not mind because they served as my training ground. I used every opportunity to improve my delivery, learn how to work the crowd, boost my confidence, and build a fan base. Eventually, my name began to be whispered in various arts circles. I also gained paid gigs, although I performed some at a loss.
Can you elaborate more on that?
Let me break it down. Remember, the gigs were in Windhoek, and I live in Rundu. So, if I was paid N$100.00 and then spent N$350.00 on transport and accommodation, that would be a loss, right? It was tough, but I saw it as an investment in my career. Over time, things indeed improved.
Is it easy to be a comedian?
Comedy is work! I learned that I had to plan and write a script for each performance. I could not just show up on stage and start talking. After developing a script, I share it with other comedians in my circle for critique. I edit it and practice performing it myself. I dedicate a lot of time to writing and rehearsing. I focus on friendly, intelligent comedy, often jokes about my upbringing, current news, or trends. Therefore, I also spend time reading and watching news. I watch shows by other comedians and learn from them too. I always advise my aspiring mentees that they need to put in the work behind the scenes.
To be continued .......
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