Over the past weekend, singer Alfa Ssebunya, popularly known as Mudra, took a firm stance against the Bizonto comedy group for making jokes about the Islamic faith at a particular event. Mudra, during his performance, halted his set on stage to rally fans against allowing anyone, including comedians, to make jokes about someone’s faith.
In the aftermath of Mudra’s outspoken stand, entertainment critic Jenkins Mukasa shared a chilling anecdote about comedian Dolibondo Babangida, who once narrowly escaped a potential attack for making jokes about the Islamic faith.
According to Mukasa, Dolibondo was hired for a comedy show where he went beyond the agreed material and ventured into making jokes about the Islamic faith. Unbeknownst to him, the audience was predominantly Somali.
As Dolibondo was about to conclude his set, around five Somalis approached Jenkins Mukasa, requesting to speak with the comedian. The number of Somalis grew to about 10, prompting Mukasa to discreetly tip Dolibondo about the situation. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Dolibondo had to jump over a fence, escaping to save his life.
Jenkins Mukasa added that the punishment Dolibondo could have faced for his actions in Islam was the chopping off of his hand. The Somalis allegedly whispered this threat to Dolibondo, and their serious expressions indicated a genuine intent to carry out the punishment.
The recounting of Dolibondo’s narrow escape serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when jokes about religion cross sensitive boundaries. Mudra’s recent call to avoid such content reflects a growing awareness within the entertainment industry about the need for sensitivity when addressing matters of faith in a diverse and multicultural society.