]Herman Gakobo Kago popularly known as Professor Hamo is one of the most talented comedians on Churchill Show that airs on NTV every Sunday. He is a Kenyan comedian who features on ‘Churchill Show’ and a brand ambassador for Star-Times. He is also a radio host at Hot 96 FM, a corporate MC and Events Host. Professor Hamo Biography.
Date of Birth
Professor Hamo was born in 1980
Background
Prof Hamo was born and brought up in Nakuru where he grew up in the military base in Lanet as his late father was in the army. His father died on 5th October 2016 after a heart attack.
Family
Professor Hamo is the fifth born in a family of eight.
Education
Prof Hamo attended Kenyatta and Nakuru East primary schools. He then went to Nakuru Day for his high school and later went to Kisumu Polytechnic where he was studying electrical engineering but dropped halfway.
Career Life
Professor Hamo started going to Nakuru theatre and joined a band called Tamasha as a vocalist but he was unhappy as it was not paying well. He later started selling mandazi so as to survive but he still sang in the band.
On Churchill Show
Prof Hamo learned that Churchill show auditions on Tuesdays in Nairobi and so he traveled to Nairobi to try his luck but the judges chased him out of the stage. Before his breakthrough on Churchill show, he auditioned six times. During ‘Churchill on the Road Show’ in his hometown Nakuru he tried his luck and was given a chance. He started his career way back in high school where he joined the drama club, he says that he used to mimic teachers after they left class and his colleagues would love it. He later joined theatre groups where he performed set books and got a chance to do stand up comedy. He says that he auditioned six times before he finally performed on Churchill on the Road Nakuru Edition. His breakthrough came in when a show of his was uploaded on Youtube and it went viral
Married
Professor Hamo is married with two sons.
Professor Hamo Net Worth
Star times is said to have paid comedian him an amount of more than Sh10 million to be their ambassador.
Professor Hamo HOT 96 FM
The famous Churchill show Stand up comedian Prof. Hamo, ( Herman Kago), joined Hot 96 FM as a cost-host to Jeff Koinange after Jalango’s departure. A video on Hamo’s Instagram account confirmed a lot of speculation as to whether he was joining the radio station or would be a guest on Jeff’s Show.
Speaking to Prof. Hamo, confirm the appointment stating he is starting work on Thursday. After Jalango’s exit, Hot 96 resorted to rotating comedians to co-host the breakfast show with Jeff. Professor Hamo eventually joined Hot 96 FM as a Radio Host and Co-hosts with Jeff Koinange.
Professor Hamo Interview
Who is Prof Hamo and why that stage name?
My name is Herman Kago hence the name Hamo who turned out to be professor after I looked at the level of my stupidity and realized niko na akili and since I used to spot a beard and an Afro hairdo, that is how the professor came to be.
You mentioned that you asked friends, does it mean you previously had a different stage name?
Initially I was just ‘Hamo the Entertainer’. That was back in 2014 before I did my breakthrough performance in the Churchill on the road Nakuru edition show. I had auditioned six times, the first time being back in 2011 when I was shown the door and told I had talent to be in the audience but not a performer.
Three years later I tried again a couple of times commuting from Nakuru every week for auditions but wacha mistari zianze kukataa kuja, nothing was forthcoming. I was pregnant with something but I did not know it was a miscarriage eventually I became broke again and stopped coming for auditions.
Having tried a couple of times without making it, how did you finally end up in Churchill Show?
In September 2014 I heard that Churchill Show was coming to Nakuru. I went for auditions and when they saw me hawakuamini natokanga Nakuru because I had never told anyone in the audition panel.
This time I had one killer line, mstari moja tu ndio iliweza, just one the rest were whack.
You disappeared from the comedy industry after the Nakuru show, what was happening?
I was performing during the recording sessions, but my acts were not being aired. At one time my performance was uploaded on YouTube and it went viral, that was the time I was featured in the open mic performance and in mid-January 2015 I did my first show as Professor Hamo adopting an incorporation of music into comedy.
Talking of singing, were you a musician at some point?
I used to be a bathroom artist but at some point I was coached and I joined my home church St Peters Catholic Church choir where I used to hit the high notes that I know pull off during the show.
You know a Professor ni ule mbuyu huwa anajiamini sana so if he does music he does it the best way because he thinks he knows even when he does not know the lyrics.
What is the family background of Herman Kago?
Well, I have a wife with two children. I have four brothers and my father is an ex-army officer now turned farmer while my mother was a housewife who instilled a lot of discipline in us.
Apart from comedy what else do you do?
I have electrical engineering knowledge as I studied the course majoring in power option at Kisumu Polytechnic for two years before I dropped out so I still freelance as an electrician.
I have also been a mandazi seller and a dog trainer provoking German shepherds as though am a robber just to get the beasts ready to deal with those who break into the affluent Nakuru homes.
Why did you drop out of school?
I was not ready to become a professional electrician. I just wanted to prove that I was good in it, but it was not my passion. So I eventually got tired and left college. My father never pressurised me to go back to school as he is the kind of parent who just watches you akisema maisha itakugonga.
As a comedian do you ever watch a recording of yourself performing?
I am always surprised when I see myself on TV because many comedians usually perform during the recording. So when I see my act on TV-am usually impressed but I enjoy the show all the same.
Do you laugh at your own jokes when you watch the recorded show?
Sometimes I do… it is part of enjoying the show. But most of the time am not usually at home to watch the show as I am a busy professor.
Where do you get your content?
Everywhere… from matatu rides, I eavesdrop a lot when people are having conversations amongst themselves or during a phone conversation. I love reading inspirational books where I also get my content.
What is your dream audience that you would like to perform to in future?
Watu wa Mathari Hospital (pauses) unajua, if you can make a mad person understand a joke then you must be very good at what you do.
8 interesting things you did not know about comedian Professor Hammo
Were you actually born in Nakuru?
I was born and brought up in Nakuru. In fact, I grew up in the military base in Lanet since my father was in the army.
So how did you make ends meet?
I started going to the Nakuru theatre, where I met many thespians. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I joined a band called Tamasha as a vocalist. This is like four or five years ago. But I still wasn’t happy. Most of the people I went to school with were doing well and had jobs.
Was the band paying you enough?
I was getting very little from a band that had about five people. So I started a mandazi business. I would cook them and transport them to the shops using a bicycle. That’s how I survived.
Was it profitable?
Well, it grew from one crate to several crates a day, but I was getting too tired. I didn’t have time to sleep or rest, because I was always cooking, transporting or going back to the shops to collect cash. I gave up on that. But I still sang in the band.
So how did you end up in Churchill Show?
I learnt that they audition on Tuesdays in Nairobi, so when I first travelled to Nairobi last year to try my luck, the judges didn’t even listen to me. They just chased me out of the stage. I did not give up, I kept on going back to the auditions.
Had you tried comedy before?
Not at all. Even in school, I never did. I was very shy while in school, so I never tried things that would make me stand in front of people. The only thing that gave me confidence was being in a band.
What makes you different everyday as Prof Hamo?
I take daily life challenges and create the comical side. I listen to people, look at different situations that happen in real life and I make jokes out of that.
Lots of comedians who do very well tend to get greedy and start their own shows prematurely, what do you say about that?
Being in the band taught me about being patient in life. I believe I’m still learning now and I will continue to listen to mentors like Churchill. I still audition every Tuesday because I believe in learning new things every day.
Do you still live in Nakuru?
From Tuesday to Thursday I’m always in Nairobi and spend my weekend with family and friends in Nakuru. I love remaining humble, even with the new fame.
Tell us more about your family?
I am the fifth born in a family of eight. None of my siblings are in showbiz.