Comedy show to relive Botswana’s history
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday September 17, 2023 06:00
The event, known as Dikgosi Tsa Comedy Night, which is a production of Gaborone Comedy Club, will pit the crew of Triccs, Bambino, Boldwin Bals and Jonny Pula.
The show promises to be colourful and hilarious with the comedians dishing out rib-cracking jokes. One of the event organisers, Jonny Pula told Arts & Culture that the idea to host this show around Independence Day with a theme centred on the country’s independence is to reflect what it means to the average Motswana.
“We will be addressing issues about our history because a lot of Batswana don’t get to experience and learn about our history outside of school and formal settings, so our objective as comedians is to delve into our history and bring light to our past and what our forefathers went through.
The idea behind using the famous P100 note image of the three dikgosi was very intentional and calling the show Dikgosi Tsa Comedy Night was done deliberately,” Jonny Pula said. Jonny Pula further explained that they were inspired by the historical story of the three chiefs; Khama III of the Bangwato, Sebele I of the Bakwena, and Bathoen I of the Bangwaketse, who travelled to England in 1885 to protest against the country coming under the control of Cecil Rhodes who most likely would have been a far more exploitative administrator. “As a collective of comedians we took from that story as we are trying to pioneer groundbreaking spaces in so far as Botswana comedy is concerned, and that we will push to a great degree for what top-level comedy stands for in Botswana.
Mind you, us saying we are Dikgosi Tsa Comedy doesn’t necessarily mean we are the only comedians in the country, it doesn’t mean that we are the best in the country, it just means we see ourselves as leaders and pioneers and to a very high degree we can represent the standup comedy space in Botswana,” he explained. Jonny Pula said they initially wanted to have the show on September 30 but had to settle for an earlier date to allow time for people who have travel plans for the Independence Day holidays.
The comedian said patrons should expect a show characterised by fresh material and the country’s history from a comedian’s point of view. “We can’t give away too much but we will have a couple of surprises on the night too,” he said. While standup comedy in Botswana has gone down in recent times, Jonny Pula said they believe in the power of comedy to create a positive impact in society. Furthermore, he stated that comedy has a unique way of addressing social issues, sparking conversations, and challenging the status quo.
“By organising shows like this one, we aim to reignite the comedy scene and inspire a new wave of talent and interest. Laughter has the potential to bring people together, bridge gaps, and incite positive change. We hope that our shows can contribute to the revival of the comedy scene and inspire a comedic revolution in Botswana,” he said.