From Africa With Laugh brings together a collection of talented stand up comics from our continent, commenting on everything from current affairs in our own country to the small matter of a little world cup-all with an African perspective.
Three talented African stand up comedians will entertain audiences nightly at the Baxter Studio Theatre throughout the World Cup, from 8 June till 3 July, with special appearances from SA’s own Lungi Pinda, best known for his role in Mike van Graan’s hilarious play, Bafana Republic.
To mark 50 years of independence in 17 African countries and the first time that the FIFA World Cup is hosted in Africa, the African Arts Institute (AFAI) will host From Africa with Laugh at the Baxter Theatre, with comedians and satirists giving their views on life, love and football on the African continent. “The overwhelming images of Africa in western media tend to be about conflict, poverty and disease. Even if this is true, we want to show life on the continent from another perspective, through humour and satire, rather than only as tragedy” said Mike van Graan, Executive Director of AFAI and Secretary General of Arterial Network, a continent-wide civil society network active in the creative sector and its contribution to human rights, democracy and development.
The show opens on Thursday 10 June, the day before the first matches of the FIFA World Cup. It features Chibwe Katebe from Zambia, a finalist in Stand Up Zambia, M-NET’s comedy talent search in that country and a leading member of Natuseke Comedy Express, regarded as the hottest comedy outfit in Zambia. Other featured comics are Philip Luswata from Uganda and Edgar Langeveldt, one of Zimbabwe’s finest stand-up comics and in 2005 and a winner of the Prins Claus Fund Award in recognition of his social and political commentary through comedy.
Although the 3-week slot at the Baxter Theatre was initially booked for the final edition in the Bafana Republic franchise, it was decided to use the slot to provide artists from other parts of the continent with access to South African and international markets during the World Cup. Part of AFAI’s vision is help artists from the rest of the continent to develop sustainable livelihoods through regional and international exposure. The show will also include some of the best sketches from Bafana Republic 3: Penalty Shootout with Lungi Pinda, directed originally by Mandla Mbothwe.
From Africa with Laugh previews on 9 June and runs till 3 July, mostly at 20:15 but at 18:00 on some evenings to take account of matches in Cape Town. Visit www.baxter.co.za for show details and all tickets are available from Computicket.
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