The state of local comedy

This week, Tapiwa shares his views on Namibian comedy and how we could better it.A lot of people can tell you that you can sing, act or crack a joke. Some will even advise you to take it up and make it a job. It has been proven that only 25% of people have been successful in these careers after been told by friends to take them up. Tapiwa Makaza, previously known as Taap the Guy, is one of the few who can share a story of success. Here's what the local comedian says.Having been in the industry and with the Free Your Mind (FYM) comedy show since the age of 15, Makaza believes there is growth that needs to be appreciated more. He says the Namibian comedy sector has come far and credit must be given to the likes of Neville Basson and Lazarus Jacobs. The comedian says a lot needs to be done though as there is only one platform in the whole country which is FYM and this is not good enough. One of the major setbacks, according to him, is that one cannot be a full-time comedian yet. “I wish people could take comedy more seriously for it to be an industry within the entertainment and arts field. This is will allow comedians to emerge and give them a platform to showcase their talent, which we have a lot of,” he says.One of his aspirations is for Namibia to produce a comedy movie starring local actors and comedians. He says this will strengthen unity within the industry and it can also help elevate its standards. With this in mind, the comedian says he's working on a sketch show that could perhaps open up doors and get the public and stakeholders involved.“Many of the film productions made here have strong messages behind them and none of them are really just funny. I want to make something like the Saturday Night Live Show but way smaller, for now,” he says.The FYM comedian will be taking part in the upcoming Comrades in Comedy which will feature all the top Namibian comedians. Makaza is excited to perform as he was an MSC Seaside cruise liner comedian the whole of last year and was touring Europe. The show will be at the Warehouse Theatre on 7 June from 20:00. Tickets are selling for N$100 in advance at PayToday and all Airtime City Kiosks and N$150 at the door.“Usually all our FYM shows are themed but not this one, which is why it is going to be epic. Everyone should come out and show our South African guest Mapomani that we too know how to crack jokes and laugh at them,” he concludedJune Shimuoshili

The state of local comedy

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-27

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The state of local comedy

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-27

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