By PASSY HAACHIZO –
ZAMBIAN comedy has in the recent years gained popularity and most people who do not understand it think that comedians are either fools or people who have problems with their reasoning.
But what such people must understand is that, Zambians are sociable and so the elevation of comedians in social gatherings is something that was bound to happen.
Makasa Nyambe alias ‘Mary Mafiga’ is one comedian who has just popped up on the public scene and is ready to storm the stage with his happy mood.
Makasa Nyambe is a cross-dresser who mimics an old woman in her late fifties with a youthful seductive feminine voice which shoots out naturally. He is 23 years old.
“I know I look this old yet I am just 23 and I always want to make my audience go wild with laughter,” he said in a feminine voice.
Nyambe is the fourth in the family of nine. He is a son of Sharon Mundia and Chansa Makosha.
Born and bred in Kazende Village of Mporokoso in Luapula Province, Nyambe is now married to Charity Muwowo with whom he has two children, Pathias and Nyambe junior.
He is a vibrant young man who has released a movie in a number of local languages like Bemba, Lozi, Tonga, Lenje, Kaonde, Nyanja, and Luvale.
Nyambe went to school only up to Grade Nine. He could not proceed further due to financial constraints.
“I went to St Clement’s basic   School in Mporokoso where I did my education from Grade One up to Nine,” said Nyambe.
Speaking in fluent Bemba, Nyambe was thankful to God for his gift to stand in the public and perform.
“I thank the Almighty God for my gift to stun my fans in a  jovial mood and God has made all those that attend my functions to go home with smiles.
“Even though I failed Grade Seven twice, I did not give up until I reached Grade Nine.
I got stuck because I did not have any money for my school fees,” he said.
Nyambe who recently acted as Mary Mafiga in a local film production called The Midwife,  where he plays the role of a male midwife who has become  talk of the  town.
The movie tells the story of how it is taboo for a man to work as a midwife.
It tries to inform, educate and  entertain young people in the audience.
Nyambe also sensitises women on how to dress properly in public and tries to engage those in Government on the matter, because  there is need
to safeguard the Zambian culture which he felt, is threatened by the Western culture.
“I want the Zambia Government to sensitise women on dressing well and I feel elders of our communities should also  help and lead by example,” he said.
He also advised men to refrain from going for Zimbabwean prostitutes at the expense of their wives.
“If men cannot keep their marriages it is better they tell their women to go back to their parents unlike the situation where some men go for Zimbabwean women when they have wives at home,” he said.
Just like any other comedian such as the late Dan Kanengoki aka Mr Sauzande,  or the likes of Topsy Sikalinda who recently represented
Zambia in Swaziland, Nyambe dreams of lifting the Zambian flag high as far as comedy was concerned.
He said it was sad that at the time when he was just stepping on the scene, piracy had become a vice that is making it very difficult for people to earn a living from creative arts like music and comedy.
“Unfortunately, local Zambian comedy is sinking due to piracy.
But I want to fight this culture through my performances,” he said.
Nyambe said he had earlier decided to relocate from Luapula to Lusaka in a bid to boost his career but the trend of piracy was worrisome.
Nyambe is currently performing on private owned Prime Television in a programme called “Ukusekeshya Bantu”. He also appeares in public often.
“I perform on Prime Television and I am going to perform on Zambia
National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) soon,” he said. Nyambe said  his wife and family were comfortable with the idea of him being involved in comedy which helps him sustain the family.
“In fact my wife is in support of my performances and even my brothers and sisters have been encouraging me not to stop acting,” he said.
Nyambe attends tutorials at Shiloh Arts Training Institute which trains and empowers youths and adults in the film industry.
Institute Director Pastor Evans Chisenga said he was happy that he was mentoring Nyambe who was just among the 40 students he had from Chawama and John Howard townships.
Pastor Chisenga said his organisation was grateful for the students who were able to cope with and able to participate in the growth of the local economy.
He said local people needed to promote artistic works in the country so that those involved in the arts can live on their talent.
Most young people fail to achieve their dreams when they realise that what they do to sustain themselves is not popular among their peers.
But if they can embrace their peculiar dreams in the manner Nyambe has done, they can stand a better chance of making it in life.