Unplugged Comedy Fest More Than Tickles
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday July 30, 2018 18:00
The comedy night featured Botswana’s K-LO, Phenyo The Master, Mr. O, Mawee, Rekunde, Thapelo Malani and Lebo English while Zimbabwean comedian, Clive Chigubu, was the host.
As host, Chigubu showed why he is an award-winning comedian with his lines as he joked about everything that came to his mind including throwing a jab to his former president, Robert Mugabe. Although he would come in now and then to throw a few jokes before introducing each comedian, Chigubu showed class.
His experience also showed as he mastered how he interacted with his audience, who were left in stitches. Although the show had a rather poor attendance, comedians tried very hard to make it a memorable night for the few patrons who had braved the cold night to witness comedians throw rapid-fire jabs and rib-cracking jokes.
While old guards such as Phenyo The Master were at fault for recycling some of their old jokes, little known comedians such as Malani were at it to create a name for themselves.
Malani, who is visually impaired, gave a short yet very funny piece of performance that left the crowd asking for more. He made references to his time before he lost his sight and when he was taken to Pudulogong Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind in Mochudi.
“After I lost my sight, I was admitted at Pudulogong. Hearing the name, I was very happy thinking that I will recover my name, but all we did was being fed too much food. Re ne re ja ebile re itsholela. Ka ke le sefofu, nako dingwe ne ke kgona go tatsa di salad plate ke tsaa gore ke tshotse nama,” he joked.
He appeared to be a fan favourite, not because the crowd sympathised with him for his condition, but mainly because of how he made them laugh.
Gabane-born Mawee also showed his creativity, joking about his homeboy and kwasa kwasa musician, Franco. He was the last performer on stage, and his set lasted the longest. He infused his jokes with the different songs from Franco’s different albums, talking about how the kwasa kwasa star is selfish and has a way of showing off and bragging about it in his songs. He picked songs that related very well with what he talked about much to the amusement of the crowd.
Meanwhile, rapper Tshepiso ‘Kast’ Molapisi, who was in attendance with his wife, had occupied the closest seats to the stage becoming a target of many comics who would throw a jab at him every now and then. Different comedians such as Chigubu and Phenyo The Master made fun of Kast’s beard and his long walk for the arts industry.
Despite the poor audience attendance, the show gave the few patrons an experience of top-notch entertainment offering different forms of comedy. According to the organisers, the Unplugged Comedy Knockout Festival pits selected best comedians from the Botswana Comedy Camp (Major Moves Comedy) against each other in a series of fast-paced challenges.