Laughter is the best medicine: a day spent at a comedy outing

Hi,

So, I have this beautiful, very beautiful tendency of attending arts events. This is something I have been doing for a long time now. If I have the time and money count me in!

Recently I attended a comedy show. This was by a comedy club called Umahlekisa based here in Bulawayo. On this particular day they were celebrating their 8^th anniversary.  Let me rephrase, WE WERE CELEBRATING OUR 8^TH ANNIVERSARY. Besides the fact that us as their followers or fans we contribute to what the club is today, I can also justify why I think I actually deserve shares in the club lol.

Let me take you down memory lane. I got to know of Umahlekisa Comedy Club back in 2016. They were having a comedy show at Amagugu International Heritage Centre in Matopo and I was there. From the group I met in 2016 I only remember, Ntando Van Moyo and Nhlalo. Ntando because he is the father of the club and Nhlalo because 5 years later, he is still a very good friend of mine, shout out to you Steezy! I will not lie to you and say since 2016, I have attended all their shows. I have probably missed many but trust me, since that year I have made enough memories with the club to last me a life time…both good and bad memories. To show my loyalty to the club, I even blogged about them in 2016. Read the post here. Side note: I was fairly a newbie in the blogging scene, do not judge me for a post that only had one paragraph and a picture without a caption.

Fast forward to recently, the club celebrates their 8 years of existence and that is a beautiful thing. I really wish I had a taste of the cake but it was made clear that not everybody was going to eat it and that’s okay but I thought as one of the long standing supporters of the club, I would get a taste. I mean come on.

Anyway, I went to the show with my wife but I will use the term close friend to avoid confusion, hi Musa! Let me give you little details about the event. It was being held at Isilwane tours, a few kilometres out of Bulawayo, along Vic Falls road. The event was pegged at $10 (usd) which included transport to and from CBD, welcome braai (which ended up being goodbye braai) and activities. Pick up time was 10a.m. I really liked their idea of supporting local tourism through comdey. Though I have been to the place before, it was nice to be back again, with different people; under different circumstances.

So we get to the pickup point, late of course but guess who is also late? The transport! The mood is dampened by the late transport which ended up not showing up but alternative transport was arranged. What seemed to be happiness again, was short lived because the driver was playing Need for speed with his kombi, with us inside. We were uncomfortable, most of us, and we made sure to let the driver know through shooting complaints after complaints, but they fell on deaf ears.

We get there alive and thankful. Dj Khekhe from Skyz Metro was the MC and he did a stella job at it. The promised entertainment was delivered fully and I enjoyed all of them. I learnt of new names in the music industry and I was impressed. I have forgotten the names and I know fully well to jot down things than rely on my stupid memory. I remember Flap G though and he performed songs titled Salibonani and Imimoya yemindeni and I will tell you one day why I enjoyed the latter. There was a group of youngsters called AmaSalad elokshini. But ofcourse my memory can never fail me on Qeqeshiwe and Seagirl. What do you call it when a musician gets on stage and starts by introducing themselves, saying who they are, where they come from…their totems? Yeah, Qeqe did that. Nothing as sexy as someone who takes pride in their clan and are proud of where they come and who they are. By the end of her performance, I had grasped a few lines about her but like I said, my memory is not reliable.

Oh wait, I forgot to mention something that may or may not be important. When we got to the venue, we were made aware that there’s a fee to be paid if you want to bring in alcohol. But we only got this infor when we were way past the gate and they hadn’t checked. That was our luck, right? And don’t you dare act like you’ve never sneaked in alcohol somewhere. To avoid ruining our luck, we decided my bag will be the wine cellar. Innovation 2.0, not. The event was sponsored by Ingwebu breweries and I am very disappointed in myself for leaving that place without tasting the calabash. I think each person was meant to receive one bottle of royal mahewu, how I got home with two is something I cannot explain.

What I also enjoyed, besides the entertainment and the lively vibe of course was the fact that there were alcohol stands. How thoughtful is that? You give us free meat, (4 small cut pieces still count) and there’s draaanks close by? How nice. But really that was a good call because the venue is in the bush and access to beverages is a necessity. There was a free round of cocktails for the ladies. I tasted a locally manufactured rum and it was NIIIIIICE. I really should note these things down, I have forgotten the name of the brewing company (if that’s what you even call it), I promise to do better and right by you next time. I will take note of important things so I don’t give you half-baked information – but it’s easy to forget to take notes when you’re having fun. I enjoyed the blowjob shots the most!!!

We didn’t get to tour the place or do any activities; I am assuming because of time. We got there late and everything was behind time, but Miss Dee not Dee(ck), that’s what she said don’t shoot me, Ntando and Mandla Da Comedian made up for it with the jokes. They lived up to their name, basihlekisa. So transport may have been a f***up and a few other things but fun was still had and the club was celebrated and that’s all matters. Did I mention that I had good company? A huge shout out to Musa and Nhlalo and our drama that continues to make my days on this earth.  

So maybe for next time, they can correct on what went wrong. For instance, giving us more meat.

Until next time…

I, the girl who will try to attend most arts events

Am out.

PS: Be lenient on my photography, that is a skill I am yet to learn to survive this blogging thing and my phone doesn’t help the situation.