16 Aug 2015

“Ke nna ko Gabane, tiro yame ke go tshodisa banyana ba Gabane bana,” that is one of the things Oefile ‘Mawee’ Mokgware is best known for. Ever since his emergence into the limelight, Mawee has mastered the art of being amazingly witty.

Usually looking serious, Mawee has become one of the household names in the local comedy industry. “Nya ga ke ree jalo mama, ke ra gore ha ba tswa clinicking ke ba tshodisa bana gore ba seka ba imelwa,” he would justify his outburst.

Just a few months back, he was crowned the 2015 President’s DayArts competitions winner in the comedy category. According to Mawee, a comedian is born with God given talent and can only be taught stage management.

Speaking in an interview in Gabane recently, Mawee said he was gifted in entertaining people and has never been taught to make people laugh. His first breakthrough was during the 2012 President’s Day Arts competitions where he finished third on his first year of perfoming.

Drawing inspiration from fellow comedians, Mawee believed that his natural ability would work wonders for him on stage. His ability to crack the ribs of the audience through hilarious jokes proved to be the secret weapon behind his career.

“In 2013 I entered the President’s Day Arts celebrations again and I took position four,” stated Mawee. Oozing with confidence, Mawee doubled his efforts in 2014 in the same competitions and managed to finish second.

And this year, he came with guns blazing and scooped the best in comedy. Though popular through the President’s Day Arts competitions, he does show his potential through various shows.

For instance, he took part in the Chibuku Road to Fame Talent search in 2014 where he displayed a scintillating performance and finished as the runner-up. The 32-year-old comedian urged the youth to consider comedy as a career because he quit his daily job at Tshwaragano Brigade in Gabane to focus on comedy and he has never had any regrets.

He further stated that his family has been supportive as they always show up at his shows to offer him support, something which gives him strength. A cousin to the Member of Parliament for Gabane-Mmankgodi, Major General Pius Mokgware, Mawee thanked President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama to have come up with a noble idea of uneathing talent through the President’s Day competitions and urged other young people to take the initiative seriously. “ Ha e ne a se ka ene Bo-Mawee ba kabo ba ja digwere,” he said.

He also expressed displeasure at the special treatment that is often accorded foreign comedians when they perform locally. Mawee said foreign comedians were paid large sums of money compared to locals even though local comedians were better than foreigners.

Furthermore, he urged the young and upcoming comedians to be unique and initiate their own style of comedy because everyone has his own style as well as seeking help from the already established comedians. ENDS