Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

Comedy, particularly stand-up comedy with new names and new concepts, has taken hold of South African audiences in the past few years.

Later this month, KwaZulu-Natal comedy fans can enjoy 99% Zulu Comedy at Durban' s Playhouse for the second time.

The city is set for a well-deserved treat after the long wait on 26 March with a galaxy of popular comedians in a show hosted for the first time by Celeste Ntuli - one of the only two female comics of note in the province.

Trevor Noah makes his re-appearance since the previous performance at last year's show. He will be accompanied by the increasingly popular Eugene Khoza.

Sifiso Nene will perform for the first time in a comedy show as the winner of the national comedy competition on SABC1's So you think you're funny.

Also making his way to Durban for the first time is theSo you think you're funny's nasty judge, Ntosh Madlingozi. An entrepreneur and one of South Africa's ascendant stand-up comedians, Madlingozi has a fresh brand of in-your-face, laissez-faire humour that has found favour with audiences at various venues around Gauteng, including Cool Runnings, The Crazy 88 Lounge, Roka, Horror Cafe, Devine Lounge, 96, and others.

He has featured to great acclaim in the last two Blacks Only comedy shows hosted by David Kau and in just his first year as a professional comedian, he hosted fellow comedian Loyiso Gola's I am Frankone-man show.

"Durban is set for a real treat, because on top of this already sell-out line-up, we will feature two new local comics we have discovered as part of our development drive", said Monwabisi Grootboom, the producer of the comedy series.