24 Oct 2013

The third annual Laff-A-Lot comedy tour kicks off in Tsabong at Mokha lodge this Saturday, October 26.

The four town comedy tour series will then proceed to Gaborone on November 1 at Cresta President Hotel, followed by Selebi Phikwe on November 8 at Travel Inn. The Laff-A-Lot tour ends with a grand finale, which will be held for the first time in Maun at Maun Lodge on November 23.

The tour will see performances by 2013 President Day competition winner, Kabo ‘Order’ Keitheng, Ouza Elijah, Sendimbah ‘Stokie’ Shitah, Jacob Tshweneyagae, Odirile Brooks, Zimbabwean born Charles Manase, Goodwill ‘Goodie’ Tlokwe, Phenyo ‘The Master’ Phaladi, Augustus ‘Legusty’ Mokgadi, Modiri ‘Mod’ Keseabetswe, Bafana ‘Ribcracker’ Letsatsi, Paphani ‘Paps’ Masalila and other upcoming comedians.

The Gaborone show will however, have a specific focus on female comics, hence being dubbed The Three Queens of Comedy. It will feature Kelly ‘Rekunde’ Mophaleng, Amantle ‘1st Lady’ Mmonadibe, and top South African female comic, Lindzy ‘Lihle’ Msimang.

Comedy for the Nation of Botswana (COFONABO) secretary general, Modiri Keseabetswe said at a press brief that the 2013 tour was peculiar as for the first time, they had secured sponsorship from the Department of Arts & Culture for workshops that will be held before the comedy shows. Attendants of the workshops will be given a chance to showcase what they have learnt during live stand-up shows.

The workshops will be conducted by Laff-A-Lot pioneers, Modiri ‘Mod’ Keseabetswe and Bafana ‘Ribcracker’ Letsatsi, and event coordinator, Gaolathe Kediemetse. Mod said the main target of the workshops is to have at least three female comedians per workshop out of the 15 expected participants as this will help to build a pool of female comics around the country.

He also said local comedy has never been in such a good place, noting that the industry is growing in leaps and bounds and that 2013 proved to be a great year for the Laff-A-Lot comedy crew who are part of the association of Comedy for the Nation of Botswana (COFONABO).

The Laff-A-Lot crew has so far hosted top notch South African comedians Thapelo ‘Shampoo’ Seemise, Mashabela Galane, Nicholas Welch aka Pule, Franco Skim Sa Mapantsula and Roni Modimola. ENDS