Local comedian Mawee shines in SA
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Thursday August 7, 2014 12:49
Gabane-born Oefile ‘Mawee’ Mokgware left a lasting impression at the well attended ‘Rock The Mother-Tongue’. Tickets for the show were sold out days before the show.
The event was held at the Kempton Park Civic Centre.
It featured, among others, American Griff, who is the first US comic to perform on Comedy Central Africa, top SA comics Trevor Gumbi, Nina Hastie, Pastor, Thabang ER, Thapelo King Flat and Mashabela Galane who was the host.
Mawee kept his audience’s in stiches with his witty and hilarious punchlines.
The young man left an impression not only on his audience, but other comedians who could not stop showering him with praises.
“Mawee has a great future in comedy if he can keep, or even surpass this standard of performance. I was impressed when I saw him when I was in Botswana, hence why I invited him to showcase his special talent here,” said Mashabela.
Mashabela explained that though he cannot understand what Mawee is saying most of the time, it is clear to him that he is funny, judging from the crowd’s response.
“Mawee is definitely one of the most fearlessly funny comics working today, ranging from the absurd, to the ridiculous and unbelievable,” he said. Speaking with Showbiz, Mawee said not only did he do well at the event, but he also managed to rub shoulders with the ‘who’s who’ of SA comedy.
“We also got to benchmark on the different styles of comedy. I chatted with other comedians and got advice. Well-established comedians like Kagiso Lediga, David Kau, Conrad Koch of Chester Missing fame, Ndumiso Lindi, Tumi Morake, Thapelo Tips Seemise, Mashabela were happy to share advice on how comedians can improve ourselves and the craft,” he said, adding that he also gave several media interviews.
Mawee will be headlining the Winner’s Circle alongside SA heavyweight Sifiso Nene this Friday at Cresta President Hotel in Gaborone. He has since been invited to two shows on Saturday, one in Pretoria and another in Johannesburg.
His manager, Gaolathe Kediemetse of Major Moves Comedy, said the more exposure Mawee has while he is on these international trips, the more he will be able to make a good living for himself. “We are really happy for him. We need to have more and more of our comics performing internationally, and we will help the comedians do exactly that,” he said.