In June 2011, stand up comics Victor Tinashe Mpofu and Simbararshe Kakora put together the first Simuka Comedy show at the Book Café in Harare and now, se funny, the comic do celebrates its first anniversary with a big show at the Zimbabwe German Society.
Inspired by the exploits of Edgar Langeveldt, Victor Mavedzenge, Michael Kudakwashe and Carl Joshua Ncube who had leapt into this ring of laughter before them, the two young comedians, known in their industry as Doc Vikela and Simba the Comic King respectively, brought together other young comics and started to bring frequent bouts of mirth-induced gasping to Harare lungs.
The anniversary show, set for Friday June 29, features line up of the best of Simuka’s comedians, along with other guests including two of Bulawayo’s funniest, Clive Chigubu and General Ntando.
Heading the line-up will be South African based Carl Joshua Ncube who has just returned to Zimbabwe after a well received set of performances in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda as part of the Nite of A Thousand Laughs Franchise.
Cast of funny men. Some of the comics in the Simuka Comedy 1st Anniversary show line-up: Q the Boss, Comrade Fatso, Carl Joshua Ncube, Simba the Comic King and Doc Vikela.
Also in the line up are Michael Kudakwashe, Doc Vikela, Simba the Comic King, Q the Boss, Uncle Sam, the multi-talented Cde Fatso.
Speaking to Zimbo Jam, Kakora said that they had faced many challenges in bringing the comedy event this far. “One main challenge is that of partnerships. Corporate partnerships as well as media partnerships have been difficult to strike,” he said, “and this makes it difficult to fund the event.”
He said that future plans for Simuka include comedy workshops and bringing in regional and international comic talent to perform at their events.
Another challenge faced is keeping the jokes fresh and audiences coming. We have been promised though that the anniversary event will be jam packed with new stuff and lots of fun.
Bring your first aid kits- the laughter is set to be rib-cracking.
