I RAN AWAY FROM HOME TO PURSUE COMEDY SAYS YY

Comedian YY blew up when he made his debut on Churchill Show. Oliver Otieno Odhiambo aka YY had to learn to believe in his dreams and letting things happen for a reason even when he couldn’t see it. And on the dating front, he’s celibate, waiting for the right woman.

YY shared his life story and some of his personal choices. On growing up, he says, “I was living with my uncle in Nairobi who has raised me since I was a kid. And together with my aunt, they have paid for my fees and everything till where I am today.”

When YY made his intentions of pursuing comedy clear to his uncle, he was not impressed saying, “When I told my uncle I wanted to pursue comedy, we had a disagreement and he said he would send me back home in my rural village.

The day he was to send me home is the day we were to record for Churchill Show. After having auditioned more than seven times I had made it to Churchill Show, the biggest stage in East and Central Africa. I was set to perform at Carnivore Restaurant.”

“I woke up in the morning at 6 o’clock while everyone was asleep and took my things. I left with two suitcases, knowing very well I didn’t have a place to sleep but I knew there was a fee performer got and I knew when I get the money, I’d find a place to sleep.”

But his plans hit a snag when it was announced that AKA who was also known as Ayeiya, was to perform which meant he could not be on stage that day on Churchill Show.

YY was told to sit in the audience and watch the show like everyone else.  While Churchill had technical difficulties backstage and was unable to come to the stage as planned, Big Ted who was managing the stage gave YY a chance to interlude before the other acts.

“When I took the mic and did my thing, I’ve never seen people laugh that hard. Kinuthia Mbugua, Governor for Nakuru was there, he came and gave me a thousand shillings.

A while later, the crowd was giving me a standing ovation and singing ‘toa ndugu, toa dada’ going round collecting money.

Nobody knew my story, nobody knew where I was going to sleep, no one knew anything and I left the stage with about Sh15,000 that night.”

The comedian has not graduated from Kenyatta University, stating, “I had mouths to feed the moment I got to second year. I’ve been in school for about 8 years now but I still believe I will graduate.”