Uniting Africa in voice, expression and laughter, this uniquely African concept seeks to build on the incredible momentum generated by the first show in 2011 and coincides with the biggest continental sporting showcase this year. It is sure to bring 2 nights of hilarity and laughter to comedy lovers, young and old in Johannesburg. Stand Up Africa won’t have a host in 2013 – it will have a Foreign Correspondent in David Kibuuka, the hilarious correspondent on Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, and will see the biggest names that African comedy has to offer in the following; Daliso Chaponda from Malawi, Salvado from Uganda, Nigerian superstar Basketmouth, Carl Joshua Ncube from Zimbabwe, Eric Omondi from Kenya as well as South Africa’s Kagiso Lediga, fresh from touring with his debut one man comedy show “In A Suit” in 2012.
Stand Up Africa has not only become one of the most important comedy brands to emerge from the continent, it is already one of the biggest and has proven to be such a unifying success that requests have been received to take the show to Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya.
David Kibuuka is the most successful comedian to have come out of Kampala via Krugersdorp and Fourways. This Honours in Finance graduate first hit the comedy scene as part of the iconic sketch tv series the Pure Monate Show. He has numerous tv credits against his name including Font & Sons, Going Nowhere Slowly, Jozi Moving the City amongst others and is now tearing up the small screen as the outrageous correspondent on etv’s Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola. Movie credits include lead roles in local movies Bunny Chow and upcoming buddy cop movie Blitz Patrollie. He debut one man show came in 2011 and it went on to win the prestigious Standard Bank Ovation Awards for best comedy show at last years National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. A celebral assassin, he is also regarded as one of the finest comedy writers in South Africa.
Daliso Chaponda hails from Malawi and maintains that he is not related to Madonna’s son David Banda. He began performing in Canada where he did 2 one man shows, ‘Feed this Black Man’ and ‘Don’t Let Them Deport Me’. Alas, they deported him anyway. Nevertheless, he has built a worldwide comedy career and is a regular fixture in comedy clubs in the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and many others. He recently appeared in Live at Parkers (Comedy Central, South Africa) and Live at Jongleurs (Loaded TV, United Kingdom). His most recent one man show was called ‘Laughrica’ and toured Africa in 2011 and 2012.
Basketmouth, born Bright Okpocha, has been performing for over 20 years and is now arguably regarded as one of Africa’s most talented comedians. From winning awards, headlining shows, hosting television programmes – in Nigeria, on the continent and abraod – Basketmouth has become a global phenomenon. Such is his pedigree that he performed alongside comedy icon Cedric the Entertainer last year. He is no stranger to South Africa having headlined Blacks Only a few years back. Definitely one of Africa’s finest, audiences are in for a treat.
Carl Joshua Ncube is a graphic designer, animator, activist for local music and producer of the Zimbabwe Music Awards. However, it is with stand up comedy that his real passion lies. He recently embarked on his Stand Up Comedy World Tour with one of his objectives being to educate the world about the real Zimbabwe from the mind of a social commentator. This is also saw him touring the United States in 2012 culminating in a performance at the world famous Gotham Comedy Club. Interviewed by CNN in 2012 about his background and craft, Carl is making waves on a global scale. His angle is not only entertaining but somewhat introspective.
Salvado has excelled in the art of stand up Comedy with a unique style of realistic observations about day to day situations that people go through. His ability to say what others cannot say has made him one of the outstanding comedians in Uganda. He quit his engineering job to concentrate on his new found passion a decision that paid off because since then he has become one of the most sought after Comedians and MC to perform at major shows. Some of the shows include hosting Sean Kingston, Beenieman, Sean Paul, PSquare, Konshen, shows, Mis Uganda 2011 & 2012 and so many others. Salvado has had international tours to the UK where he performed at the Ugandan UK convention in September 2012; he took part in the famous Nite of 1000 Laugh shows in Kampala, Nairobi and Lagos, and he was invited as the only act to curtain raise The James Ingram show in Nairobi.
Award winning comedian Eric Omondi has now become the face of comedy in Kenya and recently toured the UK to showcase his talents to Kenyan’s in the Diaspora, was invited to the Barclays Pignit Application Launch in London and was the funniest talent on the NTV comedy show Churchill Live. Ever the funnyman, Eric recently took his anticts to newer heights by forming the Skinny People United Party of Kenya (SPUK) in December 2012, with the membership minimum weight being 34kg. The party is a registered political party and goes by the slogan ‘Anakonda’ (he’s thin). In 2012 Eric and fellow Stand Up Africa comedian Salvado had a blockbuster battle at the Theatre La Bonita in Kampala, Uganda.
Recognized today as one of the country’s pioneering black comedians in the country & given his invaluable contribution to local comedy, Kagiso Lediga has certainly earned his right to be called a South African comedy legend. For over a decade – this multi talented comedian has entertained audiences in the live space, on the small screen, on the big screen and also now from behind the screen producing some of the most groundbreaking comedy content this country has ever seen; he is also the Executive Producer and director of groundbreaking satirical news show – Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola. He has also appeared in over 10 local & international movies, 2 of which he produced himself in MTV Films’ Bunny Chow and buddy cop movie Blitz Patrollie which will be released in June 2013. The host of the first Stand Up Africa, he makes a deserved return to this glittering line up representing his country.
Stand Up Africa takes place on 1-2 February at 20h00 in the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City. Tickets range from R200 to R250 and are available at Computicket.
Stand Up Africa is proudly brought to you by Podium…The Comedy Merchants & Dream Team SA in association with Dstv.
