It takes a lot of creativity to move a crowd at functions in this era where people converse more with their keyboards even when attending parties or any other gatherings, not to mention the catching up moments that goes on at the various tables.
Being an events Master of Ceremonies must be pretty hard, but why take guesses when we can establish facts from an experienced entertainer, Emeka – ‘The Romantic Mukiga’.
Emeka is among the few individuals who have mastered this art and now makes a living from being an MC. He is also a comedian and a radio host on Hot 100. We caught up with him to understand how he juggles his 3 jobs and look into the origin of ‘The Romantic Mukiga’.
Who is Emeka ‘the Romantic Mukiga’?
My name is Bareija Collins Magyezi Zache aka Emeka The Romantic Mukiga. I’m a simple human being, loving, caring, hardworking and a go getter.
I’m 26 years, I went to Good Times Primary School, Baptist High school and Greenlight High school, then I did mass communication at St Lawrence University. I am an MC, comedian and radio host.
You call yourself Emeka the Romantic Mukiga, how did this name come about?
The name Emeka was given to me by a Nigerian lady whose daughter was my friend in high school, she said I looked like Ike Emeka, the actor, so she baptised me Emeka.
The Romantic Mukiga came in a funny way. Bakiga are ‘usually’ not romantic but my ex told me that she had never seen a Mukiga so romantic like me, because I loved her, cared for her to the extent that she thought I was faking it all. But I’m a real lover boy, when I love, I give you my heart.
That’s how ‘the Romantic Mukiga’ came about.
How did all these careers start for you?
It all began with the comedy career. I was told to repeat form 5 after playing a lot that year. My mum took me to Greenlight High School where I met my mentor Teacher Mpamire.
It was a big blessing in disguise for me.
I was doing comedy in high school but I started it professionally in my form 6 vacation, that’s when I stepped on my first big international stage. For radio, I started in my first year at University when I worked for FMJ, a Christian radio station.
My emceeing career started in the same year but I always emceed functions while I was in high school.
2020 was hard for many people in all career spheres, you, however, were booked for an event almost every weekend. What is special about you?
Well, I have a lot of special things about me. First of all, my delivery is top notch, my charm, dress code, branding and I’m a people person, I get people to like me at first sight.
Being a comedian is an added advantage.
Has your family been supportive with your career choices?
For Comedy, my family wasn’t supportive at first because they didn’t think that a sensible person would start doing comedy for a living but when they saw me flying out doing shows internationally and also watching me on TV and reading about me in papers, they changed their minds.
For radio, they supported me and they still listen and laugh. For emceeing, some family members hire me to handle their functions. So they are largely supportive.
When will you get married and allow someone else to also MC at your event?
(Laughs) I’m proposing next year and I will do the ‘Kukyala’ too. I will get married in 2023, but let me first look for a woman.
You recently featured on Alex Muhangi’s Comedy Store, tell us about that experience
Well, it was a great experience. It was scientific and I performed in English, most people prefer Luganda comedy but the audience welcomed me and embraced me. It was the best experience.
How do young people join your line of work?
First of all, passion, you must love what you do. Don’t look at money first, look at branding yourself, perfecting your art and money will come. Honestly, I can’t say it’s an easy journey because, we hustled. But keep going, embrace whatever comes your way.
What plans do you have for the New Year?
I have big plans. I plan to do big projects for my You Tube Channel, I have lots of parodies in line. I plan to resume my international shows too.
Emceeing is and will always be part of me because I’m already booked for the whole of February and more bookings are coming. I plan to be the biggest name when it comes to creativity and content creation.
