The Sunday Mail
Chelsea Moyo
DONS of Comedy made a massive comeback with rib-cracking performances by Tinaye, Kadem the Comic and veteran Carl Joshua Ncube last weekend.
Carl needs no introduction, newbie Tinaye has already captured the hearts of many comedy lovers, but somehow Kadem the Comic had remained in the shadows — not anymore.
After featuring in the Uzunzu Comedy Club at Pakare Paye Arts Centre on January 26 alongside comedians such as Comic Pastor and Boss Kedha — Kadem was once again the toast of the night a day later in Avondale as Dons of Comedy marked its return.
They say laughter is the best medicine and indeed the audience laughed off “January disease” in the best possible way.
The young comedian left the crowd wanting more with his women’s tennis match joke in which he expressed his discomfort with watching the sport alone lest his mother “obviously eavesdrops from the next room” and mistakes him for a pervert watching explicit videos.
The performance by both the comedy newbies, Kadem and Tinaye, hinted at a brighter future for the comedy scene in the country.
“The comedy platform has so much potential in this new era and from what I see, these young fellows are going somewhere,” said a buoyant Carl Joshua Ncube who jokingly referred to himself as the comedy ancestor.
The Sunday Mail Society had a chat with Kadem the Comic, born Wencelacy Katuka, the energetic performer, who is juggling two worlds — being a comedian and an auditor.
Kadem, a hilarious comedian, has over the years grown under the tutelage of Nama award-winning comedian Victor “Doc Vikela” Mpofu. He describes himself as “an intelligent, humorous and people-loving person”.
His intelligence is evidenced by his achievements as one of the top students at Marist Nyanga Boys High School for both O and A-Level. It was further cemented in 2015 when he graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with an Honours Degree in Accounting.
During the day, Kadem is Wencelacy and he works as a risk manager and internal auditor for a local wholesaler.
Despite the traditional notion that auditing is a career for the socially detached, Kadem is actually a fun loving and socially involved soul who is keen on lightening up the office atmosphere.
For the budding comedian, comedy is something he felt passionate about before realising it could be more than just a hobby. “At first comedy was a hobby and gradually I began to see it as an identity. I then realised that I could nurture my hobby into a profession and that is exactly what I did,” said Katuka.
Book Cafe’s yesteryear talent search programme, BOCAPA Open Mic,was Kadem the Comic’s first step into comedy back in 2014.
With Doc Vikela as his mentor, he has managed not only to gain exposure but also to gain experience and learn the art of comedy. As of now, the comedian has curtain-raised for high-profile comedians such as Carl Joshua Ncube and Doc Vikela, and sees himself growing to be one of the best comedians in the country.
It seems the arts sector is about to swallow him whole though, as Kadem has ventured into music — releasing his debut single “Mugame”.
Said Kadem: “I have always been inspired by Tol Ass Mo, the South African comedian-cum-musician who came to Zimbabwe in 2015 for the edition of Shoko Festival and performed his single ‘Volume’ with Casper Nyovest.
“I fell in love with his work and decided to try it too. Mugame was my entrance into the music scene and from there I am working on releasing an album by the end of the year or beginning of 2019.”
For now, Kadem hopes to maintain both his worlds as he strives to prosper is all his endeavours
“It is a matter of balance and determination, knowing the right thing to do and when to do it.”
