Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
COMEDIAN Dumisani “MaForty” Ndlovu is set to face fresh fire from fellow creatives when additional guest panelists join the “Watch My Weight – The Roast of MaForty”, scheduled for tonight at a local entertainment venue in Bulawayo.
Arts administrator Saimon “Mambazo” Phiri, Coach M, and Honest, have been added to the panel, bringing more personalities to an event expected to deliver sharp humour, playful jabs and plenty of laughter.
The original panel features award-winning musician Msiz’Kay, MaForty’s best friend Cruz, his younger sister Nokuthaba Ndlovu, popularly known as MaTwenty, comedian Lyton, Zimpapers journalist Bongani Ndlovu and Don Milo, representing festival partner ByoPodcast.
The roast is one of the highlights of the fifth edition of the KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival, which is running under the theme “Give Me 5 – High 5.” The festival started on October 28, it will end on November 1.
The show will see MaForty, who has built a reputation for turning everyday experiences into comedy, take the hot seat as panellists draw from their interactions with him to deliver jokes about his personality, lifestyle and personal choices.
The concept grew out of MaForty’s planned one-man show, “Watching My Weight”, which was inspired by questions he regularly receives about marriage, children and other personal milestones.
Rather than continue responding to such questions in ordinary conversations, the comedian decided to turn them into material for the stage, allowing friends and fellow creatives to take their shots at him.
MaForty said the idea for the roast was inspired by his frequent responses to questions about personal milestones, particularly questions like when is he planning to get married or have a child.
“‘Watching My Weight’ started as a statement I used to say to people when responding to questions such as when I was getting married or having a child.
“I decided to incorporate some material from a script I wrote called ‘Watching My Weight’ into a roast of MaForty. The idea is to say people can come at me and say anything, but I am unbothered.
I deal with things when I want and how I want. I choose my struggles, in a comic way, obviously,” he said.
Beyond the roast, the KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival continues to provide a platform for comedy and other creative expressions, marking five editions with a refreshed programme and new experiences for audiences.
With familiar faces, personal stories and unfiltered humour on the menu, tonight’s roast promises a lively celebration of MaForty’s comedy journey.
