Zimpapers Logo

Lately, I have been watching ZBC-TV ads for their upcoming programmes and one of them makes good comic relief.
I’m sorry to say this but every time they screen this advert I simply laugh out loud.
Do you remember, Professor Isheunesu Mupepereki, of the “Haro kora” fame?
Well, he’s at it again and this time he appears on ZBC-TV advert in which he anchors with the other granddads of national ethos.
But what makes this ad funny is how Prof Mupepereki uses the Shona language to put his point across.
He goes like this: “Vanhu varikutikanganisa havasi vanhu . . .” he goes on and now those who understand Shona language will definitely find this humourous.
Anyway, the reason I am talking about this comedy thing is because M-Net have introduced a new programme this month called M-Net’s Comedy Club: Live In Mombasa.
The show pays tribute to some of the most memorable of the current crop of African funny people!
My only hope is that our very own stand-up comedians, the likes of Edgar Langeveldt and Karl Ncube, will make it on this show.
Langeveldt has a bagful of jokes and I have no doubt he is one of the few crossover comedians who can appeal to all a wide cross-section of people regardless of their social standing.
I am told the Comedy Club franchise started two years ago on M-Net with two seasons of Comedy Club: Live in Lagos.
This time, the 13-part stand-up comedy series which debuted to DStv viewers on M-Net earlier this year, is based in the tropically pretty coastal Kenyan capital city of Mombasa.
Hosted by former Studio 53 presenter and entertainment personality Fareed Khimani and running until the end of March, the series has featured and continues to feature some of the hottest comedians in Africa, with its line-up including performers from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The series format sees two comedians performing their stand-up routine each week, then sitting down to chat with Fareed about their careers in front of the mic, the inspiration for their humour and much more.
It you want to laugh, if you like a good joke, if you love razor sharp one-liners, then Comedy Club: Live In Mombasa is the show for you!
Biola Alabi, managing director for M-Net Africa, says the series was developed to tap into a very enterprising entertainment genre.
“Comedy has always been one of the most important foundations of great television around the world.
People love to laugh, and so this was our chance to give our audiences some fun from some of Africa’s best known comedians!”
The series screens weekly on M-Net Africa, for one hour, every Tuesday night (18:30 CAT in East and Southern Africa; 22:00 CAT in West Africa).
Upcoming performers include:
February 22: South Africa’s David Kibuuka and Kenya’s Steve Muturi.
March 1: Tanzania’s Evans Bukuku and Uganda’s Pablo (episode for West Africa);
Tanzanians Evans Bukuku and Kiroboto (episode for East and Southern Africa)
March 8: Nigeria’s Owen Gee and Emeka Smith
March 15: Kenya’s Abel Mutua and Nigeria’s Baba da Baba March 22: Nigeria’s Lepacious Bose and Uganda’s Kizito March 29: Congolese born, British comedian Edi Kadi and South Africa’s Tshepo Mogale.
Other performers on the show include Nigeria’s Seyi Law, Basketmouth, Omobaba, Julius Agwu, AY, Gordons and Mandy plus David Oscar (Ghana) Freddie and Maurice Ochieng (Kenya), Bob Nkosha and Ozzias (Zambia) and Bob Nuwagira (Uganda).
M-Net is planning on rescreening the full series in 2011, so watch your for screens details.
For more information on M-Net programmes and channels, log on to www.mnetafrica.com.