Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings on DKB criticism: 'Being vulgar is not funny!'

Last Thursday, Former First Lady Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings not only made headlines but became a trending topic.

According to multiple sources, Mrs. Rawlings was overheard calling a recent Easter Comedy Show, which featured comedian DKB, ‘boring’.

Mrs. Rawlings is known for not only having a strong opinion but for saying what’s on her mind but I needed to find out from the source herself, ‘Did she really think the show was boring?’

I quickly picked up my phone around 3:00pm to call Mrs. Rawlings because I did not want to misquote her or quote what I had previously read online. After about three rings, the Former First Lady picked up, “Hello, my darling Vanessa…” and that is how our conversation began.

“Vanessa, to be quite honest with you, I don’t even know why I’m trending. I’m not even in Accra at the moment but my phone keeps ringing. There are so many other important issues I tackle, and the media never pick up those stories,” said Mrs. Rawlings after I made her aware she had quickly become the topic of conversation.

So, what exactly happened during this year’s Easter Comedy Show featuring DKB? “After starting the show late, a comedian came on stage without any apologies saying, ‘Good evening….’, We are not in your house. At least apologise for the late start. Warm up the crowd.” Mrs. Rawlings continued saying, “I didn’t find the show funny. The vulgarity doesn’t make me laugh. Those next to me didn’t find it funny. As a comedian, you must give thought in what you say and do. Being vulgar is not a joke.”

I then went on to describe DKB’s physical stature in which Mrs. Rawlings stated, that description fits the comedian whom’s act she walked out on.

“There was a Nigerian guy who was funny without vulgarity. The Ghanaian comedian spoke about sexual things, how they behave in bed. In the Conference Center, it’s a no, no…..maybe in a village,” said Mrs. Rawlings.

Mrs. Rawlings planned on attending the event with her grandchildren but she’s happy she didn’t. “I’m lucky I didn’t take my grandchildren. Even with adult comedy there’s a certain level that you just don’t go to.”

“There were many people who didn’t find it funny. When you cater to people who bought tickets make people laugh without being vulgar. If you are a sexual comedian than go to a sexual theatre but there is also a way for a joke to be sexual but masked in a way that it’s funny,” continued Mrs. Rawlings.

Mrs. Rawlings went on to state as we’ve recently celebrated Ghana @ 60, we should be growing in every aspect and if our jokes are at this level than we haven’t grown.

In wrapping up our conversation, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings concluded saying, “If we are going to a comedy show, the bar should be raised.

I’ve watched comedians in other parts of Africa and they are funny. Give us standards. Think of your jokes and create something that will make us laugh. Have some decorum.”