Comedian steps out of laughter industry for prophecy

A Malawian who has been in the business of making (his fans) laugh for years is now looking into the future.

John Nyanga, aka Izeki, who seems to have seen the light, quit his long time career which made him a household name in Malawi to to follow his new calling: prophecy and preaching.

This is the man, together with Eric Mabedi, popularly known as Jakobo, whose popularity at some point grew so loud that even the former president Bakili Muluzi couldn’t fail to notice it.

To win votes, the president’s party enlisted the services of the popular duo. This, among other factors, propelled Bingu wa Mutharika into presidency.

On stage and out of it; in words and deeds, Izeki was a colossus of a comedian. He did not only entertain Malawians, but also comedy lovers from neighbouring countries like Zambia.

By SAM BANDA

Thanks to Izeki and Jakobo, a two man comedy piece that is on DVDs, the duo has arguably been the comedy group to beat in southern Africa region.

Izeki’s journey into the theatre started some 30 years, when he was barely 10 years.

In one of his most memorable performances at the then Malawi’s entertainment hub French Cultural Centre in the commercial city of Blantyre, Izeki walked onto the stage sashaying in sagging, frayed and baggy costume. He just looked clownish.

For some seconds, he was silent, almost mute: He didn’t focus on anyone in the audience. But this pantomime act cracked up the crowd. In return, piles of cash was thrown at him in appreciation.