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Bruce Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
WHEN the Umahlekisa Comedy Club launched last year, few people expected it to last.
One could be forgiven for thinking that the Umahlekisa Comedy Nights which were introduced by the comedy club headed by Ntando Van Moyo to promote stand-up comedy in Bulawayo would be swiftly swept away by the tides of time.
No one can doubt Bulawayo’s populace has a sense of humour as stand-up comedy enjoys deep roots in the City of Kings. However, more than a year since the comedy nights were launched, the club still stands strong, stubbornly providing laughs to comedy lovers in the city.
Each month, the comedy nights have been propped up by a colourful cast of comedians, comprising both established and less heralded comedians who have left no issues untouched, with their scathing comedic social commentary.
Umahlekisa’s comedians including Clive Chigubu, Nomsa D, Elando “The Drunk” and HO have no sacred cows, and with skill, they have tackled some of Bulawayo’s most pressing social issues — while also leaving crowds in stiches with their take on Bulawayo and the country’s public figures.
However, despite the successes it has enjoyed in its infancy, the comedy club is still struggling to be taken seriously by the financial and cultural institutions. Although its main stock in trade is jokes, the club wants the public to view it as a serious club capable of providing more than just laughs to the people of Bulawayo.
In an interview, two-time Nama nominee Moyo who is the brainchild of the comedy club said although the group had held firm over the past year, it needed people to view it as more than a mere pastime for its further growth.
“Our major challenge over the past year has been a lack of recognition of the art by the powers that be and those in the corporate world. Most people do not view stand-up comedy as an arts and culture initiative, like they do with music,” he said.
Moyo said due to failure to attract the attention of the corporate world, the comedy club was struggling to keep their project afloat and could face retardation in growth.
“Some of the low points that we experienced in our first year include failure to pay our performers or even hold regular shows. We also suffered from low crowd attendance in the beginning, in addition to poor performances from the comedians themselves.
“But we believe that is all part and parcel of the growing process,” he said.
Moyo said although they needed more support from some of the country’s institutions, it was also up to the comedians to fight stereotypes about stand-up comedy and elevate it to a respectable art form in the city. Comedians, he said, should not sit on their laurels but instead, break down doors that have thus far been closed on them.
The comedian also encouraged his colleagues to use whatever tools at their disposal, including social media to popularise their craft.
“It is entirely up to us as comedians to improve on our art as well as use social media wisely to promote ourselves. The Ministry of Arts could also be of great help by including stand-up comedy in some national arts and culture events and programmes,” he said.
Moyo said he would like to see comedians tailoring their jokes to suit the comedic tastes of the city’s people. Without the support of the people of Bulawayo, he said, the club could not soar to the heights that they had envisioned when the club was launched a year ago.
After a year in existence, Umahlekisa’s jesters have captivated local comedy fans, as they provided comic relief to local audiences. What remains to be seen is whether the club’s colourful cast of comedians can elevate it to the level that its organisers dream of.
Online Reporter