The Sunday News
Thembinkosi Khumalo, Sunday Life Reporter
UGANDAN comedian Andre “Don Andre” Adongo, who is in Zimbabwe for the first time, has taken a liking to the country, finding beauty in the country’s beauty and landscapes as he collaborates with various stand-up comedy acts.
Don Andre landed in the capital city, Harare on 26 November 2021 for the three-day The Simuka Comedy Festival.
The festival’s objectives included the sharing of ideas, networking, discussing the economic side of comedy as an industry and enlarging comedy markets.
“To be honest with you, Zimbabwe looks far much different from what we have been told about it. When I got here, I expected to see people suffering, people not having cars and the likes but I am positively surprised because people really have things this side …’’ the comedian told Sunday Life.
Don Andre has worked with famous and trending comedians like Salvador, Pablo, Kensime among others. His passion for comedy was fostered by his mother at a tender age.
His friends at school and people around him also played a part on a comedy journey in 2016 when he performed for the first time after a number of auditions.
He also stated that since he is now in the country, his narrative about Zimbabwe has totally changed.
‘’The infrastructure is amazing this side. The roads are wide which is contrary to my country because the roads are not that big. Here I can see three lane roads and parking spaces in the middle of the road which is really amazing,” he said.
‘’I almost gave up after going through some auditions that gave me a hard time. There was a point after the auditions where I thought I was not good enough and it was frustrating.
“So I gave it a rest for two months. I went for the auditions again, by then I had written some very good material which opened doors for me, and from then I became unstoppable.’’
Don Andre also performed at the City of Kings “Comedy Home Coming’’ at the National Art Gallery on 3 December before rubbing shoulders with other great comedians from the city in Gwanda on 4 December 2021 in a show organised by Umahlekisa Comedy Club.
