The Sunday News
Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter
One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mum and dad.
Most times when parents separate it become a big problem for the child when growing up. It’s the tale of award winning comedian Carl Joshua Ncube who spent most of his childhood with relatives and he learnt in six different schools.
Sunday Life had a chat with him where he narrated his long winding journey filled with ups and downs.
“I was born in Bulawayo and my parents separated when I was still a kid, as a result I spent most of my childhood with relatives,” he said.
He spent most of his teenage years with his mother.
“In my teens I lived mostly with my mum and visited my father regularly in Bulawayo during the school holidays and spend some time with him,” said Carl.
When it came to education he was always on the transfer list as he learnt in six different schools all over Zimbabwe.
“I started my primary education at Barham Green Primary in Bulawayo where I learnt one term, Grade One second term I went to Borrowdale Primary School in Harare. In Grade Three I retraced my roots to Bulawayo where I enrolled at Greenfield Junior School, I stayed for two years before moving to Waddilove Central Primary School in Marondera where I did Grade Six and finally I went to Mutare for my Grade Seven at Mutare Junior School. I then went to Prince Edward School in Harare from Form One to Six,
“I skipped Grade Five because when I arrived at Waddilove I joined the wrong class and I found myself in Grade Six classes instead of Grade Five and when the teacher realised it was too late as I was also in the top ten,” he said.
The rib cracker said he loved every moment of changing schools and places as it made him make many friends and see different parts of the country.
“I loved making friends and always seeing parts of the country, I loved identifying myself with being Zimbabwean as opposed to being Shona or Ndebele only,” he said.
When he was growing up his mother was a home economics teacher, while his father was a wood, metal and technical graphics teacher and part time comedian in weddings and little did he know that when he grows up he will follow in their footsteps as he is a comedian and also a cook.
His fruitful career has not gone unrecognised as he has won a few awards.
“I won the first ever comedy award for NAMA, the following year I walked away with the Arts personality award and I was nominated two years in a row in the Savanna Comics Choice Awards Pan African Comic of the year,” said Carl.
Asked on what keeps him going and what he does to stay relevant in the arts industry he said:
“I have always loved to solve problems. I love to show and teach people how to follow the examples I teach because I am a testimony of the things I would have achieved from scratch,” he said.
