KZN's Mbali Gudazi crowned winner of Jive Funny Championships
From left are, Jive Funny Championship organiser Yaaseen Barnes, Jive Funny Championship winner Mbali Gudazi, judge Jason Goliath and master of ceremonies for the event Dalin Olver. Gudazi who hails from KZN, gets to perform at The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival as her prize.
Image: Supplied
Mbali Gudazi, a 38-year-old aspiring comedian from Adams Mission in KwaZulu-Natal, will join a stellar cast of local comedians and international variety acts at The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival at the Baxter Theatre from Sunday June 2 to Saturday June 29.
This follows her win at The Jive Funny Championships, held at a packed Canal Walk auditorium last week.
Gudazi, who works for Transnet in the Eastern Cape moving wagon stock, impressed the judges with a sharp three-minute routine that had the audience in stitches.
The judges – comedians Jason Goliath, Yaaseen Barnes and Eddy Cassar – named her the clear favourite on the night.
She was one of eight finalists selected from an initial pool of 100 entrants from across the country. The competition, which takes place over April and May, includes four heats with six contestants each, and culminates in a final showdown at Canal Walk.
The Jive Funny Championships, part of The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival, was established 12 years ago.
The competition originally aimed to find “Cape Town’s next big comic”, with the winner earning a place on the festival’s nightly line-up.
Veteran comedian and competition judge Jason Goliath praised the local comedy scene.
“Cape Town has taken the mantle of South Africa’s laughter capital from Johannesburg. The industry is alive and well with so many open mic and comedy evenings available for aspirant comics to practice their trade and learn from the City’s heavyweights. It is encouraging to witness,” he said.
Gudazi’s prize includes a Canal Walk gift card, a Jive hamper, a large trophy, and the opportunity to perform alongside a cast of local comedians and international variety acts at the upcoming festival.
“I am thrilled with the win. I have always been that funny person in the crowd and at work my colleagues encouraged me to pursue my hobby. My superior made me the master of ceremony of all the functions at work and from there I gained the confidence to venture to comedy clubs,” she said.
Tickets for The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival are available through Webtickets.