The 6 th Annual International Heavyweight Comedy Festival (HICOFEST) is bringing nonstop laughter to Gaborone on May 25 th at Multicuisine Restaurant in the CBD with the most sought after international and local comedians. The audience will be treated to too much hilarity and great silliness from a variety of heavyweight comics. The show promises fireworks as it will be held in the heart of the city to ensure patrons experience top notch entertainment offering different forms of comedy from over 6 countries.
Chik Aljoy
Major Moves Comedy’s biggest annual flagship comedy event which has grown in leaps and bounds will feature over eleven comedians. Headliners for the show will among others include local heavyweight Phenyo “The Master” Phaladi, South Africa Has Got Talent Finalist Chik Aljoy and Award Winner Courage Gondo from Namibia. Events coordinator for Major Moves Comedy Gaolathe Kediemetse said, “We have revamped our lineup and are bringing fresh heavyweights who are hot and in demand now. However, we also give a chance to local upcoming comics to experience the big stage with established acts. Another benefit of the event is heavyweights from outside the country will offer workshops to local comedians on how they can improve their craft and Chik will teach local comedians ventriloquism.”
Chik Aljoy is one of the few ventriloquists in the world and not to mention that he is only 22 years of age. He is SA’s Got Talent Semi Finalist where he got a Golden Buzzer during his audition. Chik kick-started his career in Comedy in 2014 at the YPG June 16 event in Park Station, South Africa. He was featured as a ventriloquist/puppeteer in a stage play titled The Donkey Child at Hillbrow Theatre. He has performed most of the big comedy events all over South Africa with top SA heavyweights. He was mentored and coached by Conrad Koch of Chester Missing fame during the SA’s Got Talent Competition which catapulted his status in the industry. He’s currently touring all over South Africa with Mashabela and Salesman performing to sold out shows and has been featured on SABC 1 programmes YoTv and Mzansi Insider and has been on Mzansi Magic and 1 Gospel.
Courage Gondo, better known as Courage the Comedian, is a Namibian based comic under the stable FreeYourMind! Entertainment. In 2011 Courage the Comedian became the very first Last Comic Standing Champion beating all his competitors at the National theatre of Namibia. As if that was not enough, he went on to attain Comedian of the Year in 2014 at the annual Namibia Comedy Awards. He has since been travelling the world and has performed in Australia, Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe. He performed at the inaugural Swaziland International Comedy Festival leaving the crowd in stiches. Courage has shared the stage with Comedy heavyweights such as South Africa’s Loyiso Gola, Sifiso Nene, David Kau and the famous comedienne Anne Kansiime from Uganda. He has also recorded his one man which recieved rave reviews.
The 6 th HICOFEST will introduce Owen “Mr O” Rampha best known for his Djing and radio skills to the comedy stage and Bulawayo breakfast jock Babongile Sikhonjwa who has promised to mesmerize the audience with his comedy prowess. The event will also feature Botswana’s most funny and acclaimed stand-up comedians Augustus Phillimon from Francistown and visually impaired comedian Thapelo Malani who recently performed in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The show will also feature Katlo ‘K-Lo’ Lekgowe who performed in Namibia earlier in the year alongside Abel Maruza from Kasane. There will also be talents from other countries such as Mduduzi “Mdura” Dlamini from Swaziland and Masapo Mpiti from Lesotho who impressed at the previous HICOFEST.
Phenyo The Master
“We have had tremendous support for our past shows from both the public and the media alike. We promise a spectacular show with this production. We have fresh new lineup and people must come and experience the best and ultimate entertainment from beginning to the end. We have revealed a strong lineup of heavyweights including crowd favorites. The 6 th HICOFEST will also present a chance for upcoming comedians to come share the stage with the heavyweights.” says Kediemetse. Tickets for Heavyweights International Comedy Festival are available at Webtickets & Spar outlets priced from P250 single and P400 double. The venue sponsor for the event is Multicuisine Restaurant and the show starts at 730pm.
