This past weekend marked an interesting time in the future of the local comedy industry as one local comedian who goes by the name Phenyo ‘The Master’ Phaladi received more than a round of applause upon finishing performing at Taliban in Ga Rankuwa in South Africa(SA). The young man managed to impress the gathered crowd who in turn appreciated his efforts with a standing ovation.
Having taken local comedians to share their talent with their SA fans in the past including the likes of Ribcracker who managed to impress the Mafikeng Comedy Jam crowd alongside top SA comics, Paps, Odirile ‘Brooks’ and Elijah ‘Ouza’ Gaoakanyediwe who were at Rhapsodys in Sunnyside Pretoria, and Oefile ‘Mawee’ Mokgware who mesmerised Rock The Mother Tongue in Johannesburg, Major Moves Comedy, a local comedy organisation this past weekend introduced Phenyo ‘The Master’ Phaladi to the competitive and lively SA market.
Phenyo ‘The Master’ graced the monthly event themed ‘Tips and Friends’ that is held every last Friday of the month. Speaking to the coordinator of Major moves comedy, Gaolathe Kediemetse said Phaladi got a standing ovation at the end of his performance with the audience requesting that he should be brought back in future events. He emphasised that it is not often that upcoming comedians get to share a stage with well-established acts in their territory, let alone get a standing ovation where they are not known, but Phenyo ‘The Master’ surprised many.
“The show was graced by a number of South African celebrities while the headliners for the show were top heavyweights including Tall Ass Mo of Mo Love fame, Mpho Popps of MiWay TV ads and Ayeye Fame, while the host was Thapelo ‘Tips’ Seemise famously known as Shampoo, while locally we were represented by Phenyo and Mawee,” he said.
Kediemetse added that the main aim is not only to bring top class comedians to Botswana stages, but to also export local talent to SA and other countries where they can experience different crowds. “Experience is the best teacher, and we want to develop our comedians by getting them to perform on the best platforms with the best comics and ultimately be able to perform internationally frequently,” he said.
He continued that Phenyo and Mawee proved they are a force to reckon with belting out witty and humorous punch lines that left the audience in stitches. SA’s most loved comedian Thapelo Tips Shampoo had only praises to say about the two comedians. He said he believed they have a great future in comedy if they can keep or even surpass this standard of performance. “I was impressed when I saw them doing wonders while I was in Botswana at the Rail Park Comedy & Wine show, hence I invited them to showcase their talent on our shores. Not many comedians get a standing ovation after their set, but we saw The Master making history for Botswana comedians as he managed to wow the audience who requested that we feature him in the upcoming shows”, he said.
He continued that Phenyo ‘The Master’ and Mawee will are featured at the Strictly Come Laughing at Fairgrounds on Saturday 6th of June headlined by Kagiso Lediga, David Kibuuka and Tats Nkonzo. They will also perform at the 2nd Annual Francistown Comedy and Poetry Night featuring Mashabela Galane at Tati River Lodge in June.
