Eric Omondi is part of the third generation of comedians who have achieved a level of success in a path paved by the likes of Mzee Ojwang’ Baba Ziro and JB Masanduku who are considered the first generation of comedians.
Then came Churchill, Redykyulass crew with the likes of Daniel Ndambuki and Walter Mongare, John Kiarie, Tony Njuguna who helped shape the second generation of comedians.
The impact of Covid-19 has accelerated the transformation of the industry that is now heavily reliant on new media. There is hope for performers to take command of their own career and explore content creation for mobile and web consumption.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday, July 22, he stated that traditional forms of comedy like physical shows had helped him gain popularity that was coupled with a digital content that has brought him success.
He acknowledged that the disruption of shows would change the game and more content creation would be consumed on the web that during physical shows.
Like fellow colleagues who have come out to speak about the depression brought about by Churchill Show, Omondi too had fallen into that pit.
He wondered why his fame had not brought him fortunes that he hoped would change his life.
“If you are a public figure with no steady income, chances are high that you will sink into depression. You have nowhere to go considering your celebrity lifestyle. It eats you up from within.
“I remember when I started featuring in Churchill Live, in the first five months, I was very famous but very broke. I could not walk in the streets. I would board matatus and many would think I was shooting an episode but in the real sense, I had nothing. I was soaking in sweat,” he revealed in an interview with Milele FM.
He approached Ndambuki who advised him to look at expanding his brand outside the Churchill Show.
“I had already built my brand and adapting to the content industry was easy but these new acts are not as lucky because now there is so much content and you have to stand out,” he explained on the phone.
He advised the new comedians to invest in quality content which can be used by brands for marketing.
Omondi added that companies were creating huge marketing budgets for content creation that comedians should tap into.
Speaking about the next step in his career, Eric stated that he was planning on taking his brand across boundaries and cementing a legacy.
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