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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
VIDEO clips of the online cartoon strip The Bulawayo Show that went viral on various social media platforms will be available for viewing on the silver screen at the Rainbow Cinemas on August 8.
In April this year, comic video clips of the Bulawayo Show which comprise seven mini comedy clips, Sgwadi Mampara, Ntuthu, Comedy Club, Alpha News, Amabeats, Office Gossip and The Kingdom went viral online after they caught people’s attention on social media. Popular characters on the clips are Sox and Ratu who are on a quest to find girls to date.
The comedy clips were at the time between one to four minutes long. In each episode of The Bulawayo Show, each mini clip has a different theme.
Sgwadi Mampara tackles peer pressure, adolescence and dating while Ntuthu touches on Bulawayo life situations like youth subcultures, drug abuse, peer pressure and circumcision. Alpha News is mostly about current events and top stories at any given time.
Amabeats tackles problems faced by local up-and-coming musicians like lack of equipment, funds, right information and exposure while The Kingdom is an educative series on the true history of the Ndebele portrayed in the positive light.
On the screening day, there will be three 45 minute episodes of The Bulawayo Show and judging by the popularity of the show, it will be an opportunity for fans to finally meet the producers behind the clips.
Fans will have to part with $5 to watch the shows which will kick off at 6PM.
Executive producer of the shows, Zenzele Ndebele, said they decided to come up with an animated comedy show because of the overwhelming response they got from fans of the show online.
“The Bulawayo Show has seen each clip being shared and viewed more than 5,000 times on social media. We found it best to bring that experience in the first ever animated series on the silver screen,” he said.
Ndebele said The Bulawayo Show was a social platform to discuss issues that affect the youth in society.
“We want to promote our culture through these clips by portraying what is happening in our society.
“The Bulawayo Show tackles a lot of issues in our society like peer pressure, the plight of local musicians and tribalism,” he said.
Original The Bulawayo Show DVDs, T-shirts, caps, coffee mugs will also be sold during the launch.
“We have set up an online store to sell The Bulawayo Show to the international market,” he said.
derick.khumalo