Zim comedy flourishes
By Kudzayi Zvinavashe
After five years of pushing Zimbabwean stand-up comedy, comedy fanatics filled up Sopranos Restaurant Friday evening in celebration of Simuka Comedy’s 5th anniversary.
It was a night of laughter and more laughter with a brilliant program as both budding and renowned comedians took turns performing for the bumper crowd.
Bustop TV and P.O Box the two entities that have revolutionised comedy through comic skits that go viral came out to support.
P.O Box was represented by Boss Kheda as the host of the event, the hilarious Comic Pastor and Gonyeti swayed off their comfort Zones to stand-up comedy.
Gonyeti struck the much needed gender balance in the line-up, although she still seemed uneasy performing live for the second time in her career she still had in hysteria.
Heavy weights were represented by the likes of Long John, Doc Vikela, PK the elder and Bulawayo based Clive Chigubhu who came in with the last performance of the evening.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Boss Kheda said: “Only 2 years ago Simuka Comedy trained me and gave me my first platform to perform in front of a stage, that being said I am honoured to be tonight’s host.”
Simuka Comedy has over the years become a force to reckon with in the local comedy industry, since their first show in June 2011.
Simba The Comic King who is a co-founder of the initiative said they aimed to promote comedy to greater heights while nurturing new talent, hosting workshops and events around the country.
“The events we host provide a unique opportunity for budding comedians to try their hand at the craft,” he said.
“I feel it’s a milestone, the industry hasn’t grown as much as we would want but it is steadily getting there.”