Umahlekisa @ 5

Nkululeko Nkala

SEEMS like yesterday when local comedians celebrated Umahlekisa @ 1.

Ita��s been an amazing journey of laughs. We have laughed at both the humour and the comedians for their failure to make us laugh.

Congratulations are in order though to the main organiser and founder of Umahlekisa comedy club Ntando Van Moyo.

We have seen some super talented comedians pass through the club. Some have gone on to be household names and others have sunk into oblivion.

Do you remember Keith Nkosi? Boy, he was so talented. I hear he is now based in South Africa and is working an 8-5 job.

And then there was Long John. He had long jokes and comes/came only second to Ntando when it comes/came to comedians that either have to pay you to laugh or outright tickle you.

Long John is now based in South Africa and from what I hear hea��s big, playing at all the a�?ITa�? festivals and venues.

Now over to Umahlekisa @ 5. Its not easy for any art structure to make it that long with the little support we get from businesses and audiences but Umahlekisa pretty much puts up a show every month.

It does not matter if the shows are making money or not. Ita��s just the commitment and passion of the crew that is inspiring. Among the products of Umahlekisa there are national awards winners such asA� Ntando, Clive Chigubhu and Mandla the Comedian.

Umahlekisa has also brought us Harare comedians who in their own way have won awards and these include The Comic Pastor, Simba The Comedian, Doc Vikela , Q, Gonyethi and Carl Joshua Ncube among others.

So last Friday I went to The Vista with high hopes for this milestone. It was a colourful line up which unfortunately was nowhere near funny. I can only single out Maforty, Ckanyiso and Clive as the truly bankable comics for that night.

Award winning Mandla was a pale shadow of his Lionel Messi self. Ntando was his usual all heart no game. His closest to getting a laugh was taking a dig at a local artiste who is in the courts.

The biggest disappointment was legendary Edgar Langeveldt. I am sure he inspired himself to quit comedy that day.

There was not even a glimpse of potential or possibility of him stringing a sentence that could make one laugh.

When all is said and done, Bulawayo has had laughs and Umahlekisa have engraved their name as the transport/pioneers of local comedy.

Here is to wishing them another fruitful year. Here is five drinks for the past five years of laughs.

Until next week, be safe . . .

@nkuenkala 0772214373 . .