The Sunday News
Kudzai Mpangi, Sunday Life Reporter
UMAHLEKISA Comedy Club, which has startlingly grown from a backyard comedy to being the biggest comedy club in the country, is set for a hitting five-year celebration of the art stand-up comedy and free speech at The Vista on 9 March.
Comedy lovers will be treated to a five-star performance from The God Father of Zim Comedy, Edgar Langeveldt alongside award-winning comedians Mandla Da Comedian, Clive Chigubu and Ntando Van Moyo as well as a host of unheralded Bulawayo’s comedians.
“We are honoured to be hosting one of the greatest stand-up comedians in the country, Edgar Langeveldt, the man who helped pursue my vision as a comedian. Through his humility I have learnt how to remain relevant through changes and he has helped us as a club in what we have become,” Moyo said.
Being the first well established comedy club in the City of Kings, the club’s director, Moyo said they have grown immensely and they have managed to achieve their set goals.
“We have since managed to create a consistent comedy platform which has brought comedians and comedy lovers together, not only in Bulawayo but the whole of Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.
“In 2017, we managed to see some of our comedians tour the world and some like Long John established themselves abroad and Mandla Da Comedian got brand endorsements,” he shared.
Moyo acknowledged that they have had challenges along the way which they wish to get over with.
“We have faced challenges in getting the audience come through in bigger numbers which has been a problem for the past five years and as a club we would love to have a sold out show to keep the great work going,” he said.
“Starting this month we will be moving into the Harare domain and hosting international acts for our fans. We are also hoping to have our local comedy hitting the television screens soon,” he said.
Umahlekisa was founded by award-winning Moyo in 2013 and is a project that has done fairly well considering that it’s self-sustained.
