Helen Herimbi
The inaugural Johannesburg International Comedy Festival (JICF) takes place in Braamfontein and surrounding areas from Friday to Sunday. The three-day event that promises to cater to comedy connoisseurs and even those who just want to have a laugh every now and then, is the brainchild of Takunda Bimha of Podium Comedy.
This production company partnered with Switzerland’s Montreux Comedy Festival to form Bimha Productions which produces the JICF. Until tomorrow, fringe shows that feature up-and-coming comedians will be held at bars in Braamfontein. From Friday, more than 40 local and international comedians will take part in specially themed nights that will be hosted in a variety of venues.
These nights include the Vernac Attack hosted by Mashabela and the League of Nations featuring international comics like Francesco de Carlo (France) and Orlando Baxter (US). Stand Up Africa includes Daliso Chopondi (Malawi) and Carl J Ncube of Zimbabwe, while The Late Nite Show is hosted by Kagiso Lediga and features a variety of comics.
Live from the Thirteenth Floor is an all-female comedy show hosted by America’s Maureen Langan and featuring our own Tumi Morake, Celeste Ntuli, Nina Hastie and more. The Fire in the Hole night spares no sacred cows with John Vlismas as the host.
Jokenation is the competition component of the festival as eight South African finalists will go head-to-head for a chance to perform at the Montreux Comedy Festival next month.
Jokenation will be hosted by Loyiso Madinga who is probably one of the fastest- rising young stars of the moment. Of the JICF, he said: “It’s great timing and the right thing to do. Having done Montreaux and clubbed a bit in New York, you see we have the standard for this sort of thing here. Some people say Trevor is an anomaly. No. Trevor is really good and this industry is really good.”
Madinga also mentioned that he would love to perform at Fire in the Hole. “We’re a very conservation country,” he shared.
“I enjoy doing Jesus jokes, but I can’t do them everywhere. I want to talk about sex and religion and things you can’t do at a stokvel.”
See which topics he tackles at the JICF.
Catch Loyiso Madinga and more at the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival. Book at www.webtickets.co.za.