Botswana’s funny men Bambino and Triccs will join an impressive, high profile line-up of comedians from South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to present the Soweto International Comedy Festival as part of the Maitisong Festival. The show will take place at Maitisong on 20th April 2018 at 8pm.
The event commemorates the 10th Anniversary of Soweto International Comedy Festival and the international reach and impact that the Godfather and Founder Kedibone Mulaudzi has built through comedy. The festival is named after the famous South African Township SOWETO which is home to many of the comedians in the stable. Founded during the mineral revolution in South Africa, Soweto – (acronym for South Western Townships) is a sprawling conurbation of townships in the outskirts of the city of Johannesburg inhabited by predominantly black African people who were forcibly removed from the city centre in places like Sophiatown and Yeoville by the South African apartheid government. The forced removals were conducted to create the city centre for whites only and to populate black people far away from the whites, all in one place, closer to the mines where men provided cheap labour. Women became domestic workers in the city town traveling long distances, for long hours to get to work in the Johannesburg suburbs. Accommodation in Soweto were houses of similar plans and patterns in the entire township referred to as matchbox houses because if their sheer small size, too small to accommodate the large extended families which characterised the African family setting at the time.
Bambino of Botswana is an established comedy star and MC of note. He continues to impress in corporate events as a comedian and MC. His voice is all over radio and television doing voice overs for companies that include: Mascom, Air Botswana, Orange and Maitisong, Blue Crystal, Yarona FM etc. His high-profile MC gigs include the YAMAS, Mascom Christmas Party, Mascom President’s Concert, Barclays Madi Majwana Launch, Stanbic Bank Clash Events, BITC, BOFEPUSU Fundraising Gala Dinner to mention but a few. Bambino will be joined by another rising Triccs and they both will battle it out with regional comedy giants and surely hoist Botswana flag high.
Kedibone Mulaudzi ÔÇô is the founder of Soweto Comedy Festival and Nubreed He trained comedians like Ribcracker. Kedibone’s international appearances includes performances in South Korea, South Bank Arts Centre London-UK, Atlanta, Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana. The one thing that sets Kedibone apart from his peers is that he writes his sets for international audiences. His jokes are universal. He has performed for all South African State Presidents (Nelson Mandela, Mr Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma). His invite to perform for President Ramaphosa is on its way. He prides himself for having performed for two Nobel Laureates Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Chris Mapane: has been a comedian for about 10 years now. He is a regular on SABC’s Selimathunzi hosting some of their events in an amazingly comical manner. His star started to shine from the days of mentoring “So you think you are funny” contestants. He was nominated for the 3rd Selimathunzi Awards and performed at the SA Sports Awards. He is no stranger to Botswana having visited numerous times receiving a standing ovation after his set.
