By Thando Sithole

COMEDIAN-cum-musician Freddy Manjalima also known as Kapfupi is an all-round entertainer.
He explores his comic skills in music and has done well with a number of albums under his belt.
Kapfupi came to be known through street theatre, he was a member of the popular Magariro Street Theatre.
The focus this week is on Kapfupi’s comedy Wrong Bag and the song ‘Chikwama’.
Wrong Bag involves Kapfupi and his midget friend who have resorted to
stealing as a means of survival.
The midget ends up in a wrong bag belonging to a man trying to get rid of juju.
Kapfupi’s friend almost dies in the process, but he manages to escape and starts appearing as if a ghost.
The punchline of the comedy Wrong Bag is how Kapfupi switches the bags and takes the bag without his friend knowing.
At one point he goes on making conversation with the bag thinking he is talking to his friend, but alas! WRONG BAG!
The comedy is set in the high density suburbs and one can see the lifestyle of high density suburbs and culture of the place.
In the comedy, Kapfupi stays with relatives, his sister and her husband.
However, he proves to be a handful and a nuisance and is thrown out of the home.
Just like the title ‘Wrong Bag’, Kapfupi is often found in the wrong place at the wrong time!
The title wrong bag is satirical and apt!
At one point in the comedy he is caught philandering with his friend’s wife. The friend is Marabha whose wife is a totally ‘wrong bag’.
After all the shenanigans he finds his bag and is reunited with his midget friend.
Kapfupi’s comedy is also experienced through song.
He has a song titled ‘Chikwama’, a purse or wallet.
In the song he talks about how one should take extra care of the wallet.
It’s a song full of funny statements.
I picked ‘Chikwama’ because this song brought him to the limelight through the play Magariro.
That was when Kapfupi emerged.
Let’s look at his name, Kapfupi.
It’s self-explanatory.
His costume comprises of a suit and a bush-hat.
Comedians have their own unique costumes and style.
For example, the bald headed Sabhuku Vharazipi along with breaches and bell bottoms and a pair of remarkable spectacles, and the unkempt head of Gringo with a black sleeveless t-shirt and a rugged pair of shorts.
Kapfupi has two costumes he usually wears.
His suit is hilarious.
His jacket has one sleeve, one side of his trousers is a full length while the other has been cut.
He also has a woollen costume similar to that worn by babies which he calls a ‘man-suit’.
He is usually spotted with his ‘man-suit’ at musical shows and Galas.
Kapfupi would make a good team with Sabhuku Vharazipi, in a town-mouse meets country-mouse scenario where Kapfupi shows around Sabhuku his neighbourhood and what happens in town.
While Sabhuku can brag to Kapfupi about his land in the Shashe area and his yet-to-be sweetheart, Joramu’s widow ambuya Petunia.
And of course his priced Greyhound!
It would be beautiful exchange of culture and ideas of the two comedians.
Hope this will happen one day!