The longest running comedy festival in Botswana, the Annual Heavyweights International Comedy Festival (HICOFEST), is back for the 10th time to bring non-stop laughter to Gaborone on Friday 22nd November at Protea By Marriott Gaborone Masa Square.
The 10th installment of HICOFEST is back with the most sought after and in demand 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 to ensure patrons experience top notch entertainment of different forms of comedy.
Major Moves Comedy’s biggest annual flagship comedy event which has grown in leaps and bounds will feature over twelve comedians from Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Headliners for the event are local heavyweights Odirile Brooks and Thapelo Malani plus East African comedy giants Napoleone Ermah from Uganda and Kenyan Eric Lu Savali. Events coordinator for Major Moves Comedy Gaolathe Kediemetse said, “Most of our past events have being headlined by comedians from our neighboring countries, mainly South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, for the first time this year saw one of our comedians Thapelo Malani, perform in East Africa where he shared the stage with top talent such as Dr Hillary Okello and Teacher Mpamire from Uganda as well as Kenyans Nelly and Kinuthua. Thapelo also hosted his first ever one man show which is an inspiration to a lot of artists and proof that anything is possible inf one is determined. The 10th Annual HICOFEST will benefit aspiring local comedians and comedy promoters as international heavyweights will offer workshops to local comedians and promoters on how they can improve their craft, collaborate with other comedians and organize world class events.”
Napoleone is known for his sharp wit and observational humor, often drawing from everyday Ugandan life to create relatable and hilarious content.
He has an education degree, which adds a unique twist to his comedy, as he often brings intellectual insights into his jokes. Napoleone is one of the pioneers of stand-up comedy in Uganda and helped shape the local comedy scene. He’s been performing since the early 2000s, influencing many upcoming comedians. Napoleone has performed on international stages, including in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, showcasing Ugandan humor to a broader audience.
Beyond jokes, he uses his platform to address social issues and provide commentary on politics, culture, and relationships, making him
2 a favorite among audiences who appreciate humor with depth. Earlier this year he hosted Thapelo Malani in Soroti, Uganda. He is known for his down-to-earth personality, as he often shares his life experiences, connecting deeply with his audience.
Eric Lu Savali is one of the pioneering comedians in Kenya, contributing to the evolution of Kenyan comedy from grassroots performances to mainstream popularity. He is known for his high-energy live performances, where his quick wit and improvisational skills shine, making his shows highly popular internationally.
He’s also hosted his own comedy specials, where his style combines storytelling, humor, and audience interaction. Eric has been involved in organizing popular local shows and events through Punchline Comedy Club. One of their biggest events was hosting top American comedian Dave Chapelle earlier this year. Eric has also performed in the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria and United States of America. He’s been a frequent performer at well-known comedy venues and events like the Kenya National Theatre and Churchill Show, a flagship Kenyan comedy program.
Major Moves Comedy have been slowly increasing the lineup to give the audience an unforgettable experience. This year the event is even bigger and better to give supporters value for their money. The event includes Dr Shakes from Eswatini, Mbongeni Ignatius from Zimbabwe, Chingliz from Zambia, Masapo from Lesotho, f a n f a v o r i t e Smowkey Nyembe from South Africa, with Botswana’s Augustus Philemon, Comedian Roy and Mawee Mokgware. In September this year, Dr Shakes hosted Thapelo in Eswatini at Eswatini International Comedy Festival in Mbabane while Eric hosted Thapelo at the Punchline Comedy Club in Nairobi in June.
The venue sponsor for the 10th Annual HICOFEST is Protea By Marriott Gaborone Masa Square which is in the heart of the city in the CBD. “We have had tremendous support for our past shows from both the public and the media alike. We promise a truly enjoyable, relaxing and funny event with this production. We have a fresh new lineup, fresh new headliners and people must come and experience the best and ultimate entertainment from beginning to the end,” says events coordinator Mr Kediemetse. Tickets for the comedy night are available at Webtickets & Spar outlets priced from P200 single and P300 double. The show starts at 8pm.
