What went down and the letdowns at The Roast of Minnie Dlamini
Yours truly in gossip and laughter attended the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, last weekend. It seemed like the entire Mzansi showbiz gang, including Shwa, needed to destress a bit and have a laugh. The event was star studded.
The first day kicked off with a red carpet. But I tell you there was no need for it if we were all here for a good laugh. The Ladies Night was rather predictable, where attendees enjoyed jokes from Nono R, Chantal Jaxx, Mel Jones and the headliner, Celeste Ntuli.
Nonto R, who looked ravishing in a red mini skirt and black blouse, had the audience chuckling away as they should be but used too much vernac, which was concerning. I mean if you are at a festival with people from different parts of South Africa at least be accommodating to those that do not speak your language.
Some of Chantal Jaxx’s jokes landed while others didn’t, and Shwa could not help but notice comedian Khanyisa Bunu scrolling on her phone playing Candy Crush. Baby girl, were you that bored, or did you wish you were part of the ladies entertaining the guests?
Celeste, who is always hammered for her English, really did a good job as the headliner. She even gave the audience a little jig as she took to the stage.
Shwa became really annoyed when the expected, and not the unexpected, happened. Why is it that jokes must be centred around sex? That almost always guarantees a yawn fest, I tell you.
Then it was time for the main event, which was the Roast of Minnie Dlamini. Social media said it was a sold-out show, but Shwa could spot empty seats aplenty. I guess the front row was sold out.
Minnie showed up in an elegant eye-catching number by Gert Coetzee showing off her sexy legs.
Comedy heavyweights Tumi Morake and Jason Goliath steered the ship and delivered punchlines that had the everyone in stitches. However, Shwa was disappointed that the entire thing was scripted, even the jokes.
The lineup of roasters had Trevor Gumbi, Shahan Ramkissoon, Celeste, Lasizwe Dambuza, Robert Marawa, Siv Ngesi, Da L.E.S and Penny Lebyane.
Lasizwe looked like a wanna-be Michael Jackson. Shwa is still not sure, days later, what in the name of mid-life crisis Penny was wearing.
Just when Shwa thought she’d heard it all Marawa referred to Minnie as South Africa’s Jada Pinkett-smith. If I recall correctly there was a point where she dyed her short hair.
Shwa doesn’t want to ruin it for you gossipmongers and spoil the fun before you get to watch how Minnie was roasted like a Christmas turkey.
Gossip girl couldn’t help but notice Faith Nketsi and Andzelo Tivani, who was gallivanting and hiding booze in his bag as if he did not just the other day assault somebody’s child.
Eddie Griffin pulled a Robert Glasper by going on stage to perform while consuming what looked like an alcoholic beverage. But that’s beside the point, in his jokes the man excused Bill Cosby’s sexual crimes!
Shwa understands that comedy can get a bit touchy but tone is very important, and singing Marvin Gaye’s songs, which Griffin did for a good 15 minutes, really puzzled everybody.
We Satafricans should stop bringing international stars into everything we do. They give us the bare minimum and seem to think of SA as a cashcow.