‘Female comedians develop cold feet’

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
LOCAL comedian Ntando Van Moyo says Zimbabwe has a serious shortage of female stand-up comedians with most who are trained, developing cold feet just before their performances. Since the death of part-time stand-up comedian Chiwoniso Maraire, Bulawayo-based Nomsa Muleya has been left carrying the torch alone. While the formation of the Umahlekisa Comedy Club has seen the rise of male comedians such as Keith Nkosi, Long John and Elando the Drunk Comic, Muleya remains the only female on this platform.

Moyo said as Umahlekisa they had tried to get female comedians to join the field but they chickened out each time they were required to perform in front of an audience.

“We’ve held workshops that were specifically targeting aspiring female comedians. We teach them how to perform on stage, work on their confidence and stage presence so that they can deliver the jokes. However, when it comes to performing they mysteriously run away.

“They all say they feel intimidated by the crowd and are afraid of freaking out on stage. Some say they lack confidence and fear being booed off stage after cracking dry jokes. We try to encourage them but to no avail,” Moyo said.

Muleya said she empathizes with aspiring female comedians as she has been hackled on stage.

“I’ve had people telling me off when I’m on stage so I understand these comedians. The first time it happened, I was so terrified but I continued with my set until I finished.

“When I got off stage, I was shaking and wanted to quit, wishing the earth could swallow me. I pulled through till the crowds eventually warmed up to me,” Muleya said.

She said encouragement from fellow comedians kept her going.

“If it wasn’t for Clive Chigubu and Van Moyo, I think I would have quit. They helped me improve where I lacked and drilled me until I got it right.”

Muleya said due to persistence she had started getting gigs at weddings as an MC.

In neighbouring South Africa there are a number of female comedians that have been successful with their careers. These include Tumi Morake, Celeste Ntuli, Anne Hirsch and Leeanda Reddy aka Priyanka Naicker. These women have made names for themselves and regarded as South Africa’s funny women.

In America the famous queens of comedy including Monique, Miss Laura Hayes, Sommore and Adele Givens have shown that women could be as equally funny as their male counterparts.

Their comedy show was a sequel to The Original Kings of Comedy, which featured Steve Harvey, the late Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer and DL Hughley.