‘King Carl’ out to conquer US

very few, if any, comics around the globe could measure to the standards Joshua set.
He had flown in that very morning from a tour of Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda under the “Night of a Thousand Laughs” banner, a circuit he spoke of with enthusiasm as he got to kick it with some of Africa’s tops comics in Da Drunk and Basket Mouth.
“I’m going there to try and learn a bit more about comedy because if you get used to just performing at home you don’t really grow or improve. You don’t know where you stand unless you measure yourself alongside others, who are doing it,
“It’s like a cultural exchange; I want to learn how humour grows and translates across different countries,” he said in July.
He portrayed himself as a man who pushes the boundaries of convention within the stand-up comedy industry.
“Why preach to the converted?” he asked, further saying that his comedy is packaged to cut across cultural divides instead of making it primarily for a Zimbabwean audience.
His ambition as well as drive is undoubted and hosting his farewell gig tonight at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre is an example of the high esteem the man holds himself and evidently the sponsors.
“I’m always scaring myself because I like to push myself to the deep end and moving to the States is one such deep end. I’ve been doing stuff that other comedians would do over a 10-year period but I’ve been fortunate enough to bump into the right people at the right time,” he said.
It also is a point set to be made in terms of how high Zimbabweans should rate comedy; it’s a genre that has seen many local comics sustain themselves and their families.
It actually is serious business.
In a Press release Carl’s camp said the high- profile show, billed as one of best shows on the comedy calendar, carries a price tag of US$10.
He will share with his audience on the night, experiences that have brought him to this point, the embarrassing incidences and funny stories along the way.
“Described by CNN African Voices as the “New Face of Zimbabwean Comedy”, Carl literally broke into the Zimbabwean comedy scene with his debut one-man show Carl Joshua Ncube’s BIG ANNOUNCEMENT setting him up as the BIGGEST Zimbabwean stand-up comedian.
“Considered by his peers as an innovator; constantly pushing boundaries in multimedia. Carl is currently on a quest to take his version of Zimbabwe to the world,” it read.
The statement points to him as one of the people who pioneered a new comedy platform, Simuka Comedy together with other upcoming comics in the country like Doc Vikela, Simba the Comic King and Michael K.
“Through sheer hard work, and tenacity, Carl has broken into the South African comedy circuit and has performed with some of that country’s leading comedians who include Mel Miller, Dave Levinsohn and Kedibone Mulaudzi among others,” read the statement.