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BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
The Nando’s Comedy festival that was scheduled for December 15 at 7 Arts Theatre has been cancelled.
This follows the political row in Zimbabwe over a Nando’s South Africa advert that portrayed President Robert Mugabe cutting a lonely figure after the demise of Muammar Gaddafi and other dictators.
The advert has since been stopped.
Caroline Nyadzayo, Nando’s spokesperson confirmed the cancellation of the show.
“It was not proper for us to continue with the event given the picture that has been painted of our organisation. If we had gone ahead, it simply would have aggravated the situation,” said Nyadzayo.
The coming of the comedians would have been far less than comic for Nando’s as some of the artists that were scheduled to perform are well known for ridiculing President Mugabe.
The list included Kagiso Lediga and Loyiso Gola who are in the same stable as Trevor Noah. On the tour they were supposed to be accompanied by South Africa based Zimbabwean, Carl Joshua Ncube.
Speaking from his base in South Africa, Ncube said he was disappointed that Nando’s SA had been that insensitive.
“I understand that is why it has been cancelled. I am still saddened that we are casualties of Nando’s South Africa’s campaign. Besides it being a cultural exchange initiative, it would have benefitted Zimbabwean comedians,” said Ncube.
“I have benefitted so much from just speaking to all the comedians. I have seen them perform and it has shaped me as a performer on stage because they have so much experience.”
New comedy show at book cafe
A new comedy show titled Simuka will be held at the Book Café on December 14.
Speaking in an interview with the Standard Life&Style, Victor Mpofu aka Doc Vikela of Simuka Comedy said they were happy that the event had received sponsorship. “We are happy that the event has received sponsorship from various corporate institutions particularly Zambezi Lite who are helping us with the marketing and advertising,” said Mpofu.
“It shows things are changing in Zimbabwe and more and more institutions are now having confidence in local artistes. The support has seen us grow, for instance, in less than a year, we already have 10 new comedians and by Zimbabwean standards, that is a great number,” said Mpofu.
He said the event will serve as a milestone in proving to Zimbabwean comedy lovers that local artistes can do just as good as foreign artiste.
“We urge people to come and laugh at the things they see every day but do not notice. Let them come and laugh at themselves as we present them with homegrown comedy that they can relate to,” he sai
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