KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival celebrates young talent

Langalakhe Mabena

This year’s edition of the KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival is set to feature talents from different schools — as the festival thrives to give young performers a platform to showcase their skills.

Slated for 24 to 27 October, the festival which runs under the theme “Engage, Educate and Entertain,” has attracted school pupils to be performers.

Some of the schools that will headline the festival are Dominican Convent High School, St Augustine’s College, Sobukhazi as well as Mandwandwe and Jubilee Academy.

The inclusion of the last two schools on the festival’s programme was initiated by Bulawayo’s Ward 20 Councillor Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi — a celebrated artiste, who spoke highly of the raw talent within the schools in her ward and the need to nurture them.

On the first day (24 October) the festival will kick-start with the Theatre Day at Bulawayo Theatre. Dominican Convent High School, St Augustine’s College, Sobukhazi High School will be part of the performers. The second day (25 October), Bulawayo Theatre will be the place to be as thirteen Short Films which were written, acted, directed, and produced by students will be screened.

The schools that produced films for screening are Dominican Convent, St Augustine’s College, Sobukhazi High, St Columba’s High, Girls College, King George VI Memorial school for people living with disabilities, St John’s High School as well as Emerald Hill from Harare.

The Stand-Up Comedy Night will be held on the third day (27 October) at Bulawayo Theatre, which will see different comedians taking to the stage. These are Ntobeko Malaba from Lupane, Tanya Alex (Harare) Brian Sibanda (Botswana based) Keith Nkosi (South Africa-based) as well as Tapiwa Harinangoni.

The director of the festival Dumisani “MaForty” Ndlovu said this year’s edition is all about giving young creatives a platform to showcase their talents.

“This year we are introducing Ntobeko Malaba, a one-liner and observational humour stand-up comedian from Lupane. His comedy explores the absurdities of modern life, relationships, technology and his comedy is relatable, thought-provoking, and unapologetic, with a unique blend of wordplay and commentary. We are also welcoming back Keith Nkosi on the comedy scene after a long hiatus from the art.

“Keith is no stranger to the stand-up comedy scene in Bulawayo, having performed at Intwasa Arts Festival, Ibumba Arts Festival and various comedy nights alongside the Late Clive Chigubhu, Ntando Van Moyo among others in the past.

“Keith is a cutting-edge top-end comedian from Makokoba. His humour is biting, incisive and raw. It is blended with wit and challenges the boundaries, resulting in constant rib-cracking laughter from the audience. His set is infused with effective and vivid storytelling, it is an observation of life in the Ghetto and Suburbs, laced with unbridled humour,” said MaForty.