adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
UMAHLEKISA Comedy Nights return on July 25 after a month of silence, as organisers judged that jokes had no chance competing for public attention with the Fifa World Cup that is now in the quarter final stage in Brazil.
The comedy nights which were held every last Friday of the month will return at the end of this month with a show dubbed “Home Grown Laughs”.
Umahlekisa director Ntando Van Moyo said the ongoing World Cup deterred them from holding last month’s comedy night. The World Cup ends on July 13, meaning that comedians, (who appear to have little confidence in their own jokes!), can resume their craft at the end of this month.
“We figured out that it would not benefit Umahlekisa to have a comedy night last month because of the World Cup. This is because people are more concerned about the soccer showcase and the cold weather, hence our decision not to hold the event,” he said.
Van Moyo said lovers of comedy should not be dismayed because there will be a star studded line-up of comedians from Bulawayo and Harare to make up for last month.
“As part of the Bulawayo 120-year celebrations, we are going to host a comedy night at the Small City Hall on July 25. I will perform alongside Simba the Comic King, Nomsa D, H-O and Marshal the Drunk Comic,” he said.
Bulawayo’s first female comedian Nomsa D (real name Nomsa Muleya) said she was geared for the show as she has prepared fresh jokes for fans.
Marshall who was a disappointment the last time he performed as he was visibly drunk at the Night of 1,000 Laughs said comedy fans should forgive him as he had changed.
“I have fresh material and I am a better person and comedian. This show will be a way in which I can regain the confidence that people had in me before what happened at the Night of 1,000 Laughs,” said Marshal who has since rebranded himself to Elando the Drunk.
Umahlekisa Comedy Nights were founded by Van Moyo in March last year. This was upon realisation that stand-up comedy was growing in Harare with nothing being done in Bulawayo, yet the city has produced great comedians.
Appreciation of the shows has significantly grown in recent months in Bulawayo and has motivated young comics to line up more shows.
derick.khumalo