×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

#MCM: Comedian Professor Hammo: Why I quit college

Celebs 101
 Comedian Professor Hammo                     Photo:Courtesy

 

 

 

BY CAROLINE NYANGA

Herman Kago popularly known as Proff Hammo, 36, who features on Churchill show has become the latest sensation in the laugh industry, always leaving audiences in stitches with his unique style.

You had a bright future as an electrical engineering student why did you quit college?

Boredom forced me to leave college upon completing my second year of what was supposed to be a three year course.  I was pursuing a diploma in electrical engineering at Kisumu Polytechnic.  I decided to follow my childhood dream and my heart yearning which was comedy.

Truth is, I was not ready to become a professional electrician. I just wanted to prove that I was good in it, but it was not my passion Luckily for me, my father never pressurized me to go back to school.

What followed next?

There was no stopping me. I ventured into theatre and stand-up comedy in Nakuru while I also sold mandazis and trained dogs as a side hustle.

Why that stage name Prof Hammo?

The name Hamo stemmed from my ‘professor’ personality after I looked at the level of my stupidity and realized niko na akili and since I used to spot a beard and an Afro hairdo, that is how the professor came to be.

You mentioned you asked friends, does it mean you previously had a different stage name?

Initially I was just ‘Hamo the Entertainer’. That was back in 2014 before I did my breakthrough performance in the Churchill on the road Nakuru edition show. I had auditioned six times, the first time being back in 2011 when I was shown the door and told I had talent to be in the audience but not a performer.

Three years later I tried again a couple of times commuting from Nakuru every week for auditions but wacha mistari zianze kukataa kuja, nothing was forthcoming. I was pregnant with something but I did not know it was a miscarriage eventually I became broke again and stopped coming for auditions.

How did you finally end up in Churchill Show?

In September 2014 I heard that Churchill Show was coming to Nakuru. I went for auditions and when they saw me hawakuamini natokanga Nakuru because I had never told anyone in the audition panel. This time I had one killer line, mstari moja tu ndio iliweza, just one the rest were whack.

At what point were you accepted during the auditions?

The judges never accepted me. Not until when they finally did Churchill on the Road and ended up in my hometown Nakuru. That’s when I tried my luck again.

How did that go?

One of the judges, Allan Weku, remembered me. He had no idea I used to go to Nairobi all the way from Nakuru just to audition. He particularly liked the ‘Njooni mlio lemewa na mizigo’ joke, and he gave me a chance. That’s how it all began. I started off as Hamo, the Prof bit came later.

When was that?

Late  2014. After the Nakuru show went well, I had more opportunities to perform in Nairobi during the recording of the show at the Carnivore. The first few shows, with the help of people like Weku and other comedians, I was able to create the character Prof Hamo. It has been a wonderful journey so far.

You disappeared from the comedy industry after the Nakuru show, reason?

I was performing during the recording sessions, but my acts were not being aired. At one time my performance was uploaded on YouTube and it went viral, that was the time I was featured in the open mic performance and in mid-January 2015.  I did my first show as Professor Hamo adopting an incorporation of music into comedy.

Talking of singing, were you a musician at some point?

I used to be a bathroom artist but at some point I was coached and I joined my home church St Peters Catholic Church choir where I used to hit the high notes that I know pull off during the show.

You know a Professor ni ule mbuyu huwa anajiamini sana so if he does music he does it the best way because he thinks he knows even when he does not know the lyrics.

What is the family background of Herman Kago?

Well, I have a wife with two children. I have four brothers and my father is an ex-army officer now turned farmer while my mother was a housewife who instilled a lot of discipline in us.

As a comedian do you ever watch a recording of yourself performing?

Am always surprised when I see myself on TV because many comedians usually perform during the recording. So when I see my act on TV am usually impressed but I enjoy the show all the same.

Do you laugh at your own jokes when you watch the recorded show?

Sometimes I do… it is part of enjoying the show. But most of the times am not usually at home to watch the show as I am a busy professor.

Where do you get your content?

Everywhere… from matatu rides, I eavesdrop a lot when people are having conversations amongst themselves or during a phone conversation. I love reading inspirational books where I also get my content.

What is your dream audience that you would like to perform to in future?

Watu wa Mathari Hospital (pauses) unajua, if you can make a mad person understand a joke then you must be very good at what you do.

Related Topics


.

Popular this week

.

Latest Articles