The good, the bad and the ugly of mimicking
There is a kind of blossoming art which the born before computers (BBC) generation could never imagine happening under the blistering censorship era of founding president Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda’s rule.
This is the art of mimicking where, for purposes of entertainment; one copies closely the actions of another, often an authority, including presidents, political spin-doctors or sports personalities.
By the way, haven’t you caught the countless jokes by mimickers on famous people’s escapades, such as Bakili Muluzi’s podium retorts to issues in his 10 years in office?
Just like in cartoons, mimicking packs its satirical punch in twists to the original lines or circumstances. That is exactly what gets most of the imitated mad and ranting.
Well, just a few days ago, one overzealous policeman nearly dragged to a holding cell a guy who was killing revellers with laughter by mimicking politicians.
While it is true that some mimickers somewhere cross the line into offensive levels, this mimicker had no single offensive hair in his show.
We just had to transfer our laughter to the officer’s outright negative zeal and he left the place a very sad man.
Look here Honest Republicans, it is 2015 and Malawi is a democratic ship. Undue censorship has no seat.
In Uganda they have one Herbert Ssegujja, a secondary school teacher who devotes part time to comedy ‘impersonating’ President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Alias ‘Mendo Museveni’, Ssegujja has even performed 10 times under Kaguta’s nose, including three events at the State House.
He has polished to a blinding shine his imitation of Museveni’s character, even the stammering and Kaguta’s Kinyankole accent, and most people can’t tell one from the other.
Not so long ago, people mistook Ssegujja’s speech at the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) executive elections at Namboole Stadium for the President’s own.
After imitating several minutes on the podium, Ssegujja proceeded to the mbumba to greet them. The women even knelt in belief it was the president!
Malawi can tolerate responsible mimicking. We have enough problems and we need fun!
