Comedy Festival returns for a good cause
Larona Makhaiza | Sunday November 12, 2023 06:00
The annual Comedy Festival is finally making its full return this year for its ninth edition after a three-year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic that brought the world to a standstill with little or no activities. In an interview with Arts&Culture this week, the event’s coordinator, Gaolathe Kediemetse, revealed that the show returns bigger and better this time around. He added that this year’s event will be done for a good course with a plan to donate to Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind. “Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our comedians who is visually impaired, Thapelo Malani, has been getting bookings internationally representing the country. He is really an inspiration to both the abled and people living with disabilities (artists) proving that anything is possible,” Kediemetse said. Therefore, to show support to one of their own, she explained that they have taken it upon themselves to assist MRCB through proceeds from the Comedy Festival. “He is a product of the Blind Centre in Mochudi and the centre has approached us that they need some things that can help the next Thapelo Malani,” he stated.
He added that the plea by the centre has now become a little extra motivation to work and pull off a good show. “The motivation is mainly to raise funds for Malani’s former school so that more people like him who live with a disability can make it through even if the centre produces talent in other disciplines,” he said. He highlighted that they have gone all out to make it bigger by bringing some of the best comedians in the game. He said the line-up is rich with talent. “We are always looking to expand our events every time with the best of the best comedians from around the world. This year is bigger and better to give people value for their money while they laugh in support of MRCB,” expressed Kediemetse.
The ninth edition of the Comedy Festival boasts some of the best lineup one could dream of as some of them are international heavyweights in the comedy industry. This includes comedian Tyle Lamar from the United States of America (USA), Angel Gabriel (Nigeria), Chingliz (Zambia), Dr Shakes (Eswatini), Lilaphalapha (Lesotho), Maforty (Zimbabwe), and Roni Modimola (South Africa). From the local shores, the lineup comprises heavyweights including Malani, who is the inspiration of this year’s event, Abel Maruza, Mdala Ka Tje, Jujuvine, Maatla Ephraim Basha and Rekunde. Despite the comedy industry in Botswana still struggling to reach promising heights, Kediemetse is adamant that they will have a successful show. “We have had good support in our previous shows and there is always an appetite for great comedy so we foresee people coming in (large) numbers to experience the ultimate entertainment more so that we have featured a diverse range of international comedians,” Kediemetse said confidently. Tickets for the event are selling at P200 single and P300 double.