“Don’t crush that dwarf, hand me a projectile”

If you book dwarf comedians into Sierra Leone, you’d better make sure they show up, dammit:

Thousands of fans rioted at Sierra Leone’s national stadium Saturday when authorities substituted two local dwarf comedians for a widely anticipated out-of-town midget duo. Police arrested 30 people, amid damage and dozens of injuries.

Daylong radio ads had whipped up excitement and ticket sales for Friday night’s scheduled performance by the two Nigerian entertainers, Aki and Paw Paw.

The Nigerian performers failed to show by early morning. Organizers put the two local dwarf comedians on the stage instead.

Fans rioted, throwing projectiles and smashing windows, light fixtures and hundreds of chairs.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas. Authorities said 30 people were arrested, including eight who allegedly had tried to steal the stadium’s seats. [AP]