Nzayo’s second show to offer pure Xhosa comedy
Well-known and new artists included in lineup
THE second annual Tsepiso and Friends Comedy Night is making its return this month and will kick off in King William’s Town.
The show is the brainchild of Xhosa language activist Tsepiso Nzayo, and was first launched in Grahamstown in May last year.
The young comedian said he started the Tsepiso and Friends Comedy Night show as a way of introducing his friends to the comedy scene, but now it has expanded to giving upcoming comedians a platform to showcase their talent.
Nzayo, who was nominated in the Comic Choice Awards four years ago, started performing as a comedian in 2012.
His first show, called Nam Ndiyakwazi, was in Grahamstow
He went on to host a number of shows around his hometown and the province.
The event’s lineup includes well known Eastern Cape comedians Mbulelo ‘Manylaughs’ Msongelwa, Anele Shube, King Beema and Zikhona Msuthu.
TruFM’s Buck Matyila will host the show.
“We will also have upcoming comedians joining us.
“They are the future of comedy in the province and I believe in giving everyone an opportunity because I’ve also been afforded a platform by other comedians,” he said.
Nzayo recently opened for well-known comedian, actor and presenter Skhumba Hlophe when he brought his show to East London last month.
Nzayo said he hoped to take the show to other parts of the province and the Western Cape as well.
“We haven’t had a lot of comedy shows in the past few months because most of my friends have moved to Johannesburg.
“The plan is to take this show to other towns around the province as well.
“For now, we will do King and Grahamstown as a buildup to the National Arts Festival.
“We will only start implementing a plan to take the show to other towns after the festival,” he said.
Nzayo, who is currently working for the department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, wants to show people they can do comedy in their own language.
“I want to show them that they can use Xhosa as an economically viable language. There is nothing wrong with doing comedy in your home language.”
Nzayo also works with TruFM as a scriptwriter for their radio drama.
Entry for the event is R70, with R20 going towards the #HireAGraduate movement.
“This will go towards making phone calls and sending out their CVs.
“We don’t want them to worry about such things because job-hunting can be stressful,” he said.
The show takes place next Friday at the King Club and on May 26 at the Drill Hall in Grahamstown.
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