The first leg of the 3-day Laugh Africa Comedy Festival came alive on a nippy Friday evening at the Sandton Convention Centre. Thankfully, that didn’t stop the star-studded line-up from selling out. After picking up some refreshments in the Savanna ™ Chill Zone, we quickly got seated in the main arena for the first segment: Ladies Night.
Our MC, Mel Jones opened up the evening by reminding us it wouldn’t be ladies’ night without showing off her “assets” and with that, we were onto the first stand-up act…
Opening Night: Ladies Night
Nonto R
The KZN-born comedienne sent the crowd into an uproar of laughter by giving us her perspective on the dynamics of her marriage. She had her audience wanting more after denoting the similarities between side chicks and prostitutes from the Bible.
Chantal Jaxx
Chantal started by welcoming all the straight women and thanking them for coming (pun intended). It was uphill from there. An amusing performance depicting the woes of being an Afrikaans lesbian in South Africa through her eyes.
Celeste Ntuli
Without a doubt on an upward trajectory to being a household name. Celeste left the crowd in stitches after sharing her experiences as a 40-year-old single woman in the (muddy) dating pool. Her playback on her first outing to a strip club will have you wondering if stripping should be re-branded as an extreme sport. Only the brave dare conquer.
The Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini
With the first segment done and dusted. The crowd dispersed during the interval. We topped up our Savannas’ and headed back into the arena for the Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini.
The Opening Act and Roast Masters
Tsitsi Chiumya wasted no time getting the audience back into a recurring gust of laughter. Once we were warmed up, the hosts, David Goliath and Tumi Morake, introduced the trail-blazing panel of roast masters:
- Penny Lebyane
- Robert Morawa
- Da L.e.s
- Celeste Ntuli
- Siv Ngesi
- Shahan Ramkissoon
- Trevor Gumbi
And the ever-dazzling Lasizwe.
In our opinion, the roast should be renamed “The Burial” as no one was off-limits, and no stone was left unturned. Festival goers were treated to exceptional comedy and laughed all night in true Laugh-Africa fashion.
Worry not dear reader – you can join in as a panellist too. The action will soon be available for exclusive streaming. Only on Showmax!
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