Carl Joshua Ncube Larger Than Local Comedyaï¿½ï¿½

Nkululeko Nkala

I am glad we can write titles like this now. This is all thanks to the gallant sons of laughter, who against all odds have created an industry from scratch.

Yes, we now have a stand-up comedy industry. Talk of Clive Chigubhu, Ntando Van Moyo, Doc Vikela, Q The Boss, Cde Fatso, Nomsa D, Keith Nkosi and Carl Joshua Ncube to name a few of the crA?me de la crA?me.

I am not saying we did not have people that made us laugh before. We did, most of them though through theatre and television dramas. From the top of my head I am thinking of the Paraffinaï¿½ï¿½s, Omkhula, Tikiaï¿½ï¿½s , Kapfupiaï¿½ï¿½s and Mukadotaaï¿½ï¿½s.

Fast forward a decade or two. We have our own versions of Eddie Murphy, Kurt Williams, Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence (I swear I would have loved to include Carr and that Jason Guy that always packs up Edinburgh Festival, unfortunately their full names seem to have slipped mind). This week I want to talk about one particular comedian. I will refer to him as King of Zim Comedy. Why? He has done a lot for the comedy industry.

There is evidence he is funny. Google Carl J Ncube, and you will be amazed at the venues he has performed in, say wow! For the countries he has travelled all for and because of comedy(ironic I am referring you to google yet I donaï¿½ï¿½t have names of those two guys).

Carl created the first comedy club to run all week comedy shows in Harare. He is currently rehearsing to break the world record for most comedy shows. The record was previously for 30 shows. Carl will attempt (do) 35 gigs performed in 35 venues in 4 countries in 7 days from the 17th to the 23rd of August. He is also in the process of launching an online magazine called African Comedy Circuit. According to Carl, the two are inter-linked. The record breaking is a deliberate attempt to bring global online attention to the African comedians. The king of comedy is scheduled to go on a tour of the far East later in the year. His performances will take him to Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Shangai and Malaysia.

So this does not sound like me dreaming, I asked Carl to comment on how his attempt to break a world record and the online magazine would impact on local arts.

This is what he had to say: aï¿½?I am hopeful that all the work I am doing for and in Africa will reform our local arts sector. On my travels I have realised itaï¿½ï¿½s easier to do comedy in other African countries than in Zimbabwe. When I think of bringing comedians to Zimbabwe I just give up without trying. Itaï¿½ï¿½s like you are being punished for trying.

The arts need support from audiences and businesses alike. Government should stand up too. We could be contributing to the countryaï¿½ï¿½s GDPaï¿½?

I remember when Carl started off with His Big Announcement Show. We all thought he would not last that long. He now features amongst comedy greats and performs on Comedy Central.

He saw a gap and moved into it. He is aï¿½?kingingaï¿½? now. He did not drop his other talent of doing graphics, itaï¿½ï¿½s actually helping him push his brand more. I could never be more proud of seeing someone identifying and following a dream.

When I first met Carl in 2003, he was one of the producers of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama).He took local accapella sensations Umdumo Wesizwe to Harare(Probably one of the best NAMAS ever). I was part of that group, he was off stage. Now he is king of the mic. Keep push . . . .