When King Kandoro first brought the Properganda tour to Harare, it had three sold out shows at Reps Theatre. At that point it felt like that couldn't be outdone. Yet 15+ plus more stops later, the tour once again graced Harare for its final chapter. And it was as unforgettable as it could get — the type of an artistic performance that remains indelibly etched in your memory long after the show has ended.
After taking this special across the world, the King brought it home again for its closing summation with a show at Celebration Centre, one of the three largest indoor venues in the entire country. A daunting task, yet Kandoro's audacity has only ever been matched by his comedic brilliance; and true to form, he made almost 4,000 of us put down the cooler boxes and sit through two unforgettable hours of brilliantly witty, eye-opening, and uplifting comedy. To say it was memorable feels like an understatement.
The show Kandoro gaves us was culmination of seven years of hard, diligent work. Not only in the running jokes that have been present since his debut special (but could still be understood by newcomers), 'Conspiracy Theories', but in the friendships he's made during his comedic journey and his constant desire to put a spotlight on the upcoming generation of comics.
What had made us laugh months ago was expanded upon and in some instances rethought, hitting us as good as the first time we heard it. The self-styled outfits of the Properganda World Tour's first leg in Harare were replaced by a designer fit, and the smoke machines by pyrotechnics. While social commentary and current affairs ruled the night, there was more than enough humour from Kandoro's surroundings in the moment. When you missed a punchline or didn't understand a reference, the laughter surrounding you was still so infectious.
Opening the show was Tinashe Fortune, a bright spark among a new generation of comics trying to make a name for themselves in the capital. Having featured on the Johannesburg leg of the Properganda tour, he was bridling with humour from his trip across the Limpopo. As he drank water midway through his set, a cluster of the audience shouted "sips water," a reference to his Netflix subtitles joke which first made an appearance a few months ago at Doc Vikela's 'Just What The Doctor Ordered'. This being a sure sign of his growing stature in the comedy space.
Kandoro's comedic sparring partner and good friend, Nigel Tha Slick Pastor (Nijo), came on next, after a brief intermission by Denilson. He brought with him the friendly but humourous jabs he usually trades online with Kandoro, along with conversations about that one relative and comparisons of how differently religious rites are done locally and in the Western world. Nijo showcased why his own special had multiple sold out legs.
When Kandoro finally walked out to the front of the stage and spread his arms out wide, in his now familiar posture, only one of the two pyrotechnics at the front went off in response. However this slight blip didn't make him falter. When Kandoro received his biggest laughs of the night, as if understanding the grand immensity of the occasion, both pyrotechnics finally lit up. It seemed almost intentional, an extension of the comedic tools at his disposal.
The Properganda World Tour's final chapter was an exclamation point of an exceptional year for Zimbabwean comedy—the befitting, well-deserved coronation of a king. Another first. As we made our way out of Celebration Centre, there was a line of cars as far as the eye could see. A representation of the gravity of what he had achieved and the belief people had showed in him.
!Conspiracy Theories' saw him sellout Reps Theatre, 'Prodigal Son' took on 7 Arts Theatre and conquered it, and now 'Properganda' has succeeded where 'Family Meeting' had almost made it. We're fast running out of venues for him to sellout.
Greedysouth rating: 8.4/10
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