Comedy in vernacular electrifies Sandton
The Weekend Comedy Showcase in Sandton had audience members gasping for air from laughing too much.
February in Sandton has earned the right to be known as the month of laughter in the wake of the Weekend Comedy Showcase held at Theatre on the Square from February 9 – 11.
The event was emceed by comedian James ‘Chomi Ya Jesu’ Mahlokwane, who was joined on stage by a handful of South Africa’s vernacular comedians who tore the roof off the venue.
The line-up was comprised of award-winning and acclaimed comedians.
Mahlokwane, Thabo ‘Summary’ Kgaphola, Siya Seya, and Mashabela Galane (known only as Mashabela) – electrified a diverse audience in SeTswana, SeSotho, SePedi and isiXhosa, with English subtitles here and there, proving how universal a good joke told in any South African dialect can be.
Among the hilarity were jokes about marriage, infidelity, life in the townships of South Africa, and the differences between learners in multiracial and township-based schools respectively. Each comedian brought a unique flavour to comedy, and each made stellar usage of their mother tongues in splitting the sides of most people in the audience at the closing performance on February 11.
“It was amazing, top-notch, number one,” said audience member Abraham Ledwaba. “Mashabela was my favourite.”
Keamo Ntsoane, who also enjoyed Mahlokwane’s skit showing women how to smack their male partners with knickers as a means to curbing their infidelity.
“I enjoyed it too much,” said Ntsoane. “Panty guy, Chomi Ya Jesu, shame, he was so funny. Mashabela as well.”
Related Article: Local stand-up comedy brings the laughter to Sandton
