I don’t take alcohol – Klint Da Drunk

Weekend Magazine: Tell us about your background… Klint Da Drunk: My real names are Afamefuna Klint Igwegba. I’m from Anambra State. I was born and raised in Enugu State. I went to  tertiary school in Enugu. I was practically the only comedian in Enugu State when I was in the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) […]

Weekend Magazine: Tell us about your background…

Klint Da Drunk: My real names are Afamefuna Klint Igwegba. I’m from Anambra State. I was born and raised in Enugu State. I went to  tertiary school in Enugu. I was practically the only comedian in Enugu State when I was in the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) where I read Fine and Applied Arts. Then, in the early 90s, comedy was not valued. And being the only one then in the state, instead of getting commendations and encouragement, I got insults. Though I use to go to the UNN, Uniport, Abia State University to perform but not many appreciated comedy. But then I was called Osaufia IMT.

WM: I watched you dancing on TV in a program Calaber Rocks, are you also a dancer?  

Klint Da Drunk: I started to dance when I was small. Then, before I go to school on Monday morning, my parents usually checked my bag to see how many of my exercise and textbooks, pencil and rulers were missing. And if any textbooks were missing, I get a beating for that. Though my parents where disciplinarians, I love them for it. So, on Fridays I usually check my bags ahead of Monday. And if I found out any thing was missing I will replace it. And I found a good way of replacing it. If I go for a birthday party, during the weekend and I dance, I was always the best in the competition, and I win rulers, pencils, cleaners and other things. So, when I go to birthday parties, I really have to dance. So that I can win something before Saturday night. And in order to dance like that, who else will I learn it from, than the best, Michael Jackson.

WM: Is Michael Jackson one of your role models then?

Klint Da Drunk: He defiantly was. I also had a good friend who used to dance, African Michael Jackson. He is late too. He was my very good friend and I learnt some steps from him.

WM: So apart from doing comedy, you can dance?

Klint Da Drunk: Not that I dance very well, but I can dance. And the trick about dancing is, you just follow the beat of the song.

WM: Where you a father when you danced at that programme?

Klint Da Drunk: Then, I was not a father because my son was not born yet, but now that he is born, I think I even dance better.

WM: Does your wife complain?

Klint Da Drunk: Complain? How can she complain about what brings the money to the house? She even tells me ‘there is this new dance step, have you seen it’?

WM: How did you come into comedy professionally?

Klint Da Drunk: It was when Opa Williams did Night of a Thousand Laughs in Port Harcourt in 2003 or thereabouts, I’m not so sure of the date. And one man, we call Ibokokuo, he is also a comedian ?who brought me to Opa Williams. He told him that he wanted me to perform. But Opa Williams told him he can’t use someone he has not seen perform before. But Ibokokuo insisted he should try me. At the end of the day, Opa Williams agreed to allow me perform for five minutes. I went on stage and that five minutes lasted for 45 minutes. That was what gave me that push. So Opa Williams invited me to Lagos for Night of a Thousand Laughs in Lagos. And from then I have been going on and on.

WM: How do you find comedy as a business?

Klint Da Drunk: It is a wonderful and lucrative business.  It makes you meet people and takes you to places you have never thought I would be.

WM: Are you really a drunkard?

Klint Da Drunk: No. I don’t take alcohol.

WM: Why did you choose this style of comedy of acting as a drunkard?

Klint Da Drunk: We use to have this jester in my area. He was the caretaker of our house and he used to drink so much. Whenever he was drunk and coming back, he use to do this funny talk, and as a kid I watched him do that. I tried it out in comedy and it made an impact. So, I choose this style.

WM: Are you saying you are not going to change this pattern of comedy?

Klint Da Drunk: I’m changing this pattern very soon. I’m coming out with another style of comedy very soon. But I assure my fans that it is going to be something very nice as well. Klint can be a drunkard as I have been doing, Klint can be an actor. Klint is one person but can have different styles of presenting comedy. Imagine that I have been acting the drunkard since I started out and see how long it has lasted. So it means I can bring out another pattern that will last long as well. So I’m coming out with a new style soon.

WM: It means you are making money from comedy?

Klint Da Drunk: Yes I am. Financially, comedy pays off. It is lucrative.  I am not regretting it, though we get less than we deserve.  For instance, a musician can come up stage and sing four tracks and each track is not up to five minutes. Then do all the, yo, yo for ten minutes and leaves. While a comedian comes up stage and does 30 minutes, and people will complain he did not stay long. And at the end of the day, you pay the musician much higher than the comedian.

Also, the musician can sing one song several times, but if a comedian cracks the same joke two times, people will be complaining. It is a little stressful yet we are more or less overworked and underpaid.

WM: How did you meet your wife?

Klint Da Drunk: I have known my wife for a long time. I knew her for over four years. At a time, we just thought we should just get married. We were friends. And because she understands me, I don’t have a problem.

WM: But does she do comedy in her own way?

Klint Da Drunk: She is quiet funny. In fact, when we are at home, I do must of the laughing.  And my child is something else. He is seven months old but we gist.

WM: What is your highest point in comedy?

Klint Da Drunk: Every point is my highest point. Depending on how you look at it.

WM: Have you had a bad day in comedy?

Klint Da Drunk: Every one has a bad day. Sometimes you crack jokes and it just does not flow. I have been in this business for years and sometimes it happens. Even in other businesses and life generally, it happens. There is no one who can say he has never had a bad day, whether in comedy or business except the person is lying.

WM: Are you going to be doing shows like ‘Crack your Ribs’ and so on?

Klint Da Drunk: I have my own show. I have only done it once which the then First Lady Stella Obasanjo came for, here in Abuja. I was supposed to do another in Abuja and Lagos this year but something came up so I could not do it. I will do it next year. But my fans should look out for things like The Worst of Klint Da Drunk and not the best, because there is nothing good about the drunkard. It is going to showcase most of my works.  And also the program called The Manner.

WM: What is it all about?

Klint Da Drunk: I won’t say a word. Just look out for the program called The Manner.