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Langalakhe Mabena
Catch them young!
All events at this year’s edition of the KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival are a must attend as the organisers of the festivities have put forward schoolchildren to be the main drivers of the festival which is set to run from 25 to 28 October in the city of Kings.
Themed “IT’S ON,” this year’s activities of KwaNtuthu are mainly sponsored and running under the CreativeACTION2 Culture Fund supported by the European Union.
Dominican Convent High School returns once more this year as on 25 October dubbed the Theatre Day, the school’s drama club will display a play. The club was thoroughly mentored and trained by seasoned stage gurus including Zenzo Nyathi and Matesu Dube.
On the same day, Arthur Chikanga, a Grade Seven pupil from Charleston Trust Primary School will also take to the stage with former Petra High School pupil Tapiwa Harinangoni being the host for the day.
On 27 October, the Short Films Screening day, short films written, directed and produced by Dominican Convent High School’s drama and media club will be screened.
The pupils were trained by Raisedon Baya, Charmaine Mudau and Dumisani Manyathela.
KwaNtuthu’s curator Yananai Mavingire said the festival aims at grooming young talent and giving them a professional platform, where they will nurture, polish their craft and be prepared for the future in the arts industry.
“In working with school children, we realised that there’s a lot of talent in the youth that requires nurturing and as a festival, we want to be a part of that. It shouldn’t just be “familiar” older faces but young people also have to take centre stage so that they are inspired to continue doing well and to push their talents and grow.
“We want young people to feel appreciated. We also want to pull them to the festival, to show that you can still have fun without partaking in harmful substances or acts like drug abuse.
“Young people are often sidelined and yet they have an abundance of talent. We need fresh ideas, new viewpoints and they are the right candidates for that.
“They just require assistance in shaping those ideas,” said Mavingire.
Seasoned artistes are also part of the headlined acts at KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival.
On 26 October, the festival will avail the Bulawayo versus Harare Stand-Up Comedy Show.
Harare will be representated by Nyasha Alois Mupariwa (ACE), Fortune Tinashe Manyowa (Tinashe ThisIsIt) as well as Tinotenda Lebohang Kurwaisimba (Tinoe).
Representing Bulawayo will be Mbongeni Brandon Masuku, Ignatius Ndlovu, Denford Musvosvi also known as D’Juni.
The major highlight of the festival will be the Roast of Zimbabwe which will take place on 28 October 2023.
At the roast, seasoned performers who will take to the stage are visually impaired Thapelo Malani (Botswana) Joseph Sebeho aka Kagisure (South Africa), Ndiye Tampa aka Triccs (Botswana) Kayumba Nathan Simunhweze aka Smoke (Zambia), Tshepo Mpiti aka Masapo – (Lesotho) as well as Babongile Sikhonjwa who will be the roast master.
“The roast has seasoned comedians coming in from other countries within the region. The comedians will focus on Zimbabwe, looking at our social and political standings from the eyes of outsiders with the intention of bringing humour and reminding us that it’s not all bleak.
“We get to also hear about their countries with humour being the main point. It will be like funny social commentary,” said Mavingire.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
