BULAWAYO comedian and performer, Dumisani Hubert Ndlovu, aka MaForty, recently launched a festival aimed at creating a comedy infrastructure, global cultural network and synergies among performers and content producers.
The Inaugural KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival will run from October 27 to October 29 under the theme This is for you.
The fete will have its activities at the Zimbabwe Music Academy, Bulawayo Theatre and Mzilikazi Youth Centre.
“We at KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival believe that through laughter we can bring about change of perspectives on political and socio-economic views of the society in a unifying and funny manner,” MaForty told Standard Style.
“Using different art forms in the comedy genre we seek to bring about cultural preservation and integration to our partners, performers, audience and other stakeholders.
“We aim to create and maintain a comedy infrastructure and creating global cultural network and synergies amongst our performers and content producers through our exchange programme.”
He said the comedy fete strives for an engaging, informative, and entertaining comedy industry in Zimbabwe and beyond, which will give focus to local comedians and propelling them to international stages.
“The festival sets itself to bring international attention to the city of Bulawayo through comedy and thus making the festival a tourist attraction,” said Ndlovu.
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“We believe in reinventing the wheel and exercising creativity and innovation in our work.
“Happy people are the most successful. We believe having fun while we work stimulates creativity, which is necessary to the work we are involved in.
“We are deeply rooted in conducting business in a professional manner. We strive to display reliability and fairness in all our dealings.”
MaForty added: “We believe in the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people of all races, tribes, nationality, having physical or mental disabilities or belonging to other minority groups, which enables us to be an International and cultural entity.”
“As we engage in various activities and partnerships, we ensure that we do so in ways that uphold honour and truthfulness, while respecting the diverse backgrounds of our team members, clients, and the public.”
He said the festival team will specifically choose an artist or group it wants at the festival. The artist would either be local, regional or international.
“A call for artist would be done and artists whose artistic work meets the festival criteria or theme for that year would be invited,” MaForty said.
“During the year, the festival will be running exchange programmes for stand-up comedians within the Sadc region and beyond.
“This programme will see Zimbabwe stand-up comedians performing around Sadc or other interested African States and comedians from Sadc countries and other African states coming through to Zimbabwe to perform.
“The festival is being hosted for the people of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Africa and just maybe the world. This event is for the survivors, it’s for those battling cancer, depression and other ailments.
“It’s for the health workers that never stopped working and risked their lives, the artists that kept the world entertained, it’s for the dreamers, the movers and shakers. It’s for everyone, thus This is for you.”
He said the festival will comprise of opening night show featuring stand up comedians and poets.
