It was a night of fun and laughter on Sunday when four of Africa’s top comedians held a joint performance in Lilongwe.
The four comedians entertained patrons at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc).
All roads led to the magnificent venue such that as early as 7pm, scores of vehicles had pulled up at the Malawi Square.
Qoncept Creative brought together highly-acclaimed comedy forces in the names of Uganda’s Anne Kansime and Coltida Inapo, Malawi’s Daliso Chaponda and Zimbabwean Carl Joshua Ncube under the Grand Coalition banner as part of the Kweza Arts Centre fundraising project.
Chaponda once again proved why he is regarded as one of the best comedians of the moment. He left no stone unturned as he joked about slavery and racism and how he was called “a Penguin and I was left confused because they are cute”.
He showed how much he follows local current affairs, especially political issues which is not surprising given that his father George Chaponda is a politician. He did not spare his dad as he threw several jibes at him.
“I was relieved that nobody thought my dad had started the fire at Lake of Stars this year. Last time I was here [Malawi], I could not say anything as stuff was still in court [referring to Chaponda’s Maizegate court case].
“I was relieved when he was cleared because I was 80 percent worried that he was going down. I was going to say ‘Dad they say you stole money and you didn’t give me any,” he said sending the auditorium, including his father, into wild applause.
He moved on to a topic that perhaps none in the audience thought about. On American pop singer Madonna and her love for Malawi.
“We are not doing enough to sell Malawi. Madonna has not come back to adopt a fifth. We need to send her a catalogue, better still, we need to develop an app with cute orphans where she will swipe right to choose from,” he joked.
Moving back to politics, Chaponda had no kind words for Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
“I thought I was Malawi’s best comedian but he [Chilima] is funnier than me. I listened to his BBC Hard Talk programme and the way he was answering the questions. It was absolutely hilarious,” joked Chaponda, visibly enjoying himself and the moment.
In a fashion similar to what happened during her maiden visit in 2014, Kansiime got on stage dancing but this time it was not Tsika by Sonyezo but Tay Grin’s Lubwa.
“Malawi, the love you have for me makes me worry… Let me make myself comfortable before I start talking,” she said before taking off her fluffy wig, adding, “Let me make you laugh and give you a balance.”
She then joked about her failed engagement.
“For five years, I was engaged to a man. He did a degree in me, he booked me for five years, imagine, the whole of me. Of course, it is not much but this is me,” she joked while pointing at her svelte self and continued, “Some of you are sitting on something that is not yours”.
One of the show’s hosts Patience Namadingo mocked the current crop of prophets in terms of how they preach before calling on stage Inapo, another Ugandan comedian.
“Nowadays the greatest fear for women is no longer labour but growing fat,” she joked before taking foreigners head on.
“I saw a Chinese guy with a Malawian passport yet there’s nothing African in them. Even when they pass it’s like a blackboard ruler walking,” she joked.
Then it was Ncube’s turn who joked mostly about politics in his country, Zimbabwe.
“The last time I was in Malawi, Mugabe was being removed from power and up to now, nothing has changed. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years and I am turning 39 and that’s how I wasted my time,” he remarked.
Random interviews after the show indicated satisfaction on the part of the audience. Many felt the show was too good for the gate fee of K15 000 per head.
“This was unbelievable. Daliso is a world-class act, so is Kansiime. Ncube and Inapo are both great and I wonder why they are not well known yet,” said Charity Liwonde, a patron. n
