MC starts a network of local comedians
Local MC and former Lukhanji FM DJ Tembela Cawe has formed a network of local comedians called Skomani comedy.
Although Cawe is not a standup comedian he says he sure knows how to crack a joke and identify talent when he sees it. Following comedians and
“attending comedy shows as an MC gave me the ambition to host my own comedy show with the local comedians I have identified,” he said.
At present the group has five members, one of them a woman.
Cawe said there was room for more talented funny people to join the group.
Once that goal is achieved the “plan is to begin rehearsals to identify the unique talent of each comedian and strengthen it.”
Cawe said the network concept arose after famous local comedian Khanyisa Bunu booked him to be an MC in one of her shows, where he was exposed to the potential of local talent.
This is where he discovered that there was a gap for local stand-up comedians and people who could open shows for comedy giants.
According to him the comedy industry is growing, with new categories coming into existence. Black society never took
“interest in comedy before, it was mostly in English and by white people. Now we have 100% Xhosa comedy which I think I can successfully do."
Presenting a Xhosa joke in English was difficult as the meaning was easily lost in translation. This, he said, often took the amusing part away from the joke thereby making it hard to raise laughter from an audience.
There is no need for a Xhosa
“joke to make sense for people to laugh.”
As far as content relevance is concerned, Cawe said even the Covid-19 pandemic had its amusing scenarios.
We have seen the president
“struggling to put on his mask - that is comedy. All the regulations the government has recently made are confusing the government itself. There is a lot one can make comedy out of," he added. Cawe said: Comedy is based
“on the reality of our lives and as comedians we add a sense of humour into our life stories.” He added that laughter was good for health and that it healed a frustrated nation.