The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Leisure Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN stand-up comedian, Carl Joshua Ncube is set to make history and bolster his CV as he will be part of the BEST OF AFRICA GALA cast of renowned comedians that will perform at the Comedy Central in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dubbed the International Comedy Festival, the event that has been running since 25 November and will end on 5 December at the Silverstar Casino, will also feature Africa’s king of comedy, Trevor Noah and acts such as David Kau, Ndumiso Lindi, Salvado and Churchill.
International comedians such as Jeff Ross, Hanibal Buress and Ariel Spears will also be doing their thing.
Naming all the comedians that will take part could prove to be a herculean task. What can be said is that over 60 jokers will be part of the fiesta.
Carl said he was thrilled to have been recognised as one of Africa’s funniest comedians and that the recognition meant that Zimbabwe had also gained recognition as a country of vast talents.
“This means Zimbabwean comedy has gone a long way in being noticed. For our talent to be recognised internationally it really does count a lot for the growth of our local comedy. I am super chaffed and happy to have the honour to be alongside Africa’s greatest comics,” he said.
Described by CNN African Voices as the new face of Zimbabwean comedy, Carl literally broke into the Zimbabwean comedy scene with his debut one-man show Carl Joshua Ncube’s BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, setting him up as the biggest Zimbabwean standup comedy export.
Considered by his peers as an innovator; constantly pushing boundaries in multimedia in his performances. Carl is currently on a quest to take his version of Zimbabwe to the world. To date Carl has performed in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and USA.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
Carl would embark on one of his most ambitious projects, a one-man show very early in his career followed by a national tour. Carl’s performances thrilled audiences nationwide and earned him the title of one of the biggest standup comedians in Zimbabwe.
World Tour
Carl launched his blueprint for a world tour and set off from Bulawayo performing in Selebi Pikwe in Botswana then Lusaka in Zambia and Kampala, Uganda. Carl racked up lots of amazing reviews as his tour built up momentum and began to set Carl’s reputation as a versatile comedian with much potential.
CNN African Voices a magazine programme on CNN called Carl in for an interview exposing Carl to such a great audience, shedding light on his aspirations to tour the world and spread the message about Zimbabwe
Parkers Comedy and Jive
In South Africa the renowned comedy club Parkers Comedy and Jive gave Carl an amazing break by giving him performances in their famous club, allowing Carl to perform with some big names in the South African comedy industry such as Mel Miller, Dave Levinsohn, Kedibone Mulaudzi.
South African Comedy Circuit
Carl Managed to get a number of performances in the South African comedy circuit becoming a regular at comedy nights such as Parkers Comedy, Wednesday Comedy Nights, Carnival City.
Stand Up Africa
Podium the Comedy Merchants who have exclusively managed iconic comedians such as Trevor Noah, Eugene Khoza and Loyiso Gola developed a standup comedy showcase called Stand Up Africa, putting together some of the biggest names in African comedy like Basketmouth, Daliso Chaponda, David Kibuuka, Ndumiso Lindi, Kagiso Lediga and Carl Joshua Ncube.
Nite of a Thousand Laughs EXTRA
Performed in the brainchild of Opa Williams in Abuja, Nairobi and Uganda alongside great African comedians from across the continent, Klint da Drunk (Nigeria), Mandy (Nigeria), Eric Omondi (Kenya), Funny Face (Ghana), Patrick Salvado Indringi (Uganda) and Carl Joshua Ncube was the representative from Zimbabwe.
Gotham comedy Club New York
Carl had his debut performance in one of the biggest comedy clubs in the World
Gotham Comedy Club in New York officially taking Zimbabwean comedy where it has never been before!
