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Eddie Kadi is on a mission to sell out the O2 Arena and put his homeland of Congo on the map

IT’S a feat that has never been attempted by any Black British comedian. But north London funny man, Eddie Kadi is hoping to make history when he headlines at London’s iconic O2 Arena on September 4.

The 20,000-seater venue is a popular choice with worldwide superstars such as Beyoncé and Prince when they’re in town, so news that the young British comic would take on a venue of this magnitude was sure to raise a few eyebrows. And it did.

Many questioned how a relatively unknown comic could land a venue of this size and acclaim. But for Eddie and his legions of fans that have attended his sell-out one man shows – two of which were held in the O2’s popular venue, IndigO2 – it was a simple case of “taking things to the next level.”

“The circuit that I usually perform on is not as exposed as the circuits of well-known comedians like, Lee Evans, Eddie Izzard and Michael McIntyre, so yes, I can understand where certain questions about me come from,” says 26-year-old Kadi. “But from my first sell-out show at south London’s Mermaid Theatre to my last one in IndigO2, I’ve wanted to get bigger and better. What better place to do that than at the O2?”

Kadi admits that he was a little hesitant when his management presented him with the idea of taking on the 02. But he knew it was something he needed to do to take his career up a step.

“My team around me have always believed in me and what I do, but I must admit that when my manager suggested the O2, I hesitated. It’s a big place and a very big deal. But as time has gone on, that hesitation has turned into excitement, which has been the same process whenever we moved to bigger venues in the past. I know I have to deliver.”

The award-winning comedian left his homeland of Congo with his family when he was eight. Since then, he has gone on to become one of our brightest stars, successfully carving out a niche in the comedy game with his winning mixture of jokes, dance and song – a mixture he credits to his country of birth. He hopes that his stint in the east London venue later this year will help to put Congolese talent on the map.

“There are a lot of talented people in the Congo who I watched when I was growing up. It’s funny because when I first started out, people thought that I was Nigerian or Ghanaian because they were the instantly recognisable countries in Africa. But now people are finding out about the Congo.”

Next month, Eddie will visit the Congo for the first time since his childhood with Warchild, an international charity protecting children living in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. The comedian says he can’t wait to re connect with his roots.

“I haven’t been there since I was eight so I know it’s going to be emotional. I want to visit my grandma, my family, see where we lived and how it has changed from what I remember growing up. It will just be interesting to see how things have changed.”

Asked whether people in his homeland know about the impact one of their own is making on British soil, Kadi replied:

“I don’t think they know too much about what’s going on here, but I’m sure it will hit them like a rock when they find out,” Kadi laughs. “But my trip to the Congo with Warchild is less about me and more about bringing awareness to the country and seeing what part I can play in repaying my country for the culture they injected into me.”

It is this humility that many – fellow comics in particular – believe has contributed to Kadi’s renowned success, and why many will support him in his quest to sell-out the O2 later this year.

“I have some very good friends in comedy. I’ve had some really nice support and some encouraging words from comedians that I haven’t even met yet. The support has been invaluable. We’ll be on the same bill and they’ll finish their set and say ‘go and support Eddie Kadi at the 02.’ That means a lot.”

Like many of his fellow comedians, Kadi started from humble beginnings. With that in mind, securing a date at the O2, whatever the outcome, has given the black British comedy scene a much-needed boost. Still, Kadi becomes coy when asked how it feels to be one of the comedians responsible for this movement.

“It’s quite hard to answer that question because it was a collective movement. When I finished university, I never thought that I’d make a career out of comedy in the way that I have, so to get to this stage is a big thing for me and a testament to the team and support network I have around me for believing in the vision. They played a massive part in convincing me about my dreams. The Voice newspaper has also been very instrumental and have always covered my stuff. Thank you!”

He concludes: “This date at the O2 is the next step in my career and it has truly humbled me. I would love to see you all down there to cover this next chapter of my life!”

An Audience with Eddie Kadi is at the O2 Arena, London on September 4

Published: 09 March 2010
Issue: 0

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