VHA L: Born to make people laugh
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday April 2, 2023 06:00
Different comedians have their ways of delivering comedy and the 32-year-old has chosen the modest delivery style and great comedic timing which make him funny.
His fresh and unusual take on life issues is easily relatable and assures his audience a unique experience of his shows. VHA L is the first born from a family of seven.
He says he always had it in him to be a good standup comedian but was not aware and as such did not pay too much attention to his good sense of humour. He says he has always been the family's entertainer throughout his childhood. But his talent would not have been realised had it not been for one of his cousins who convinced him to do something about it.
From there, VHA L has never looked back and now his outstanding comedy is winning him accolades while he continues to make people laugh. “I have always been a funny person in the family.
Idon't want to use the term clown. But it was one of my cousins, Namvula who made me feel like I might be a comedian so I decided to perform at Miss Chobe 2017 and had a great performance,” said VHA L in an interview with Arts & Culture. It did not take long for his unique talent to be recognised as he won an award during the President’s Day Competitions (National Arts Council) in 2018 on his first attempt in the competitions.
“VHA L is now known as one of Chobe’s best comedians with two President’s Day Competitions awards for 2018 and 2022 for standup comedy,” he said. Despite his fast rise in the comedy scene, VHA L says he is yet to go full time on it.
He is currently working in the tourism and hospitality industry for a company called Chobe Game Lodge. He says when he is on stage, he combines razor sharp comedy with an understanding of human dynamics to create effective communication. “Most of my jokes revolve around my life. I talk about real things that happened during my childhood and our way of life which plays a major role when it comes to the crowds’ attention because they have probably had the same encounters in life, e.g. growing up in a one room, being brought up by your grandmother, childhood games, that's my angle,” he explained. He says his most famous joke is the one where he likens a woman companion to weed.
“Mosadi o tshwana le motokwane. I still can’t think of a joke that outshines this one but lately they call me Rra Motakase because of another joke I shared on my Facebook page where I use electric gadgets to relay my joke. The joke behind that is hidden but relatable,” he adds. While he is not in it for the money, he says most people think that as a comedian, he is rich or has money.
He said comedy in Botswana is not very rewarding as such people should not think that he has much. “I have the talent but the money doesn't match it yet,” he explains.
While most people would get mad at being given the run around for their pay after performances, VHA L rather finds it funny. He says it is those excuses they give that fascinates him and instead of being angry, he finds joy in them. VHA L believes he is currently the fairest of them all having won two awards in the national competitions in the past four years.