Comedians to tickle Lusaka for Brighton Sinkala
Over 60 comedians from far and wide locations across the country will this morning exchange turns in the Lusaka Play stage as they perform in honour of their fallen colleague, Brighton Sinkala.
The 53-year old comedian died on Sunday in a tragic road accident in Kabwe as he travelled to Lusaka after MCing a wedding in Kitwe the previous evening.
Comedians Association of Zambia (COAZ) president Cheelo Mwanachingwala told #Kalemba that the artistic send-off will be held at the Lusaka Play House car park starting at 8:00 hours this morning while there will be a tribute comedy show in honour of the former funny man.
Mwanachingwala said this before COAZ secretary general Shandele Ginnethon
Issued out an official statement which dispelled rumours on social media that the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Sinkala’s family did not allow the to host the event.
“The artistic send off of veteran comedian Brighton Sinkala will take place at Lusaka Play House starting at 08:00hrs contrary to rumours circulating on some social media platforms suggesting that the SDA church refused to grant the request made by COAZ.”
“The church and family have given artists the whole day today to celebrate the life of the late Brighton Sinkala,” the statement read.
In the meantime, Sinkala’s family disclosed to #Kalemba that burial has been set for Thursday, October 13 at Memorial Park with the funeral service at Chainama SDA Church.
He is survived by a wife and three children who include two sons and a daughter.
He was an environmental health technician under the Ministry of Health for many years till his tragic passing and at the time of his death he was a senior health promotion officer.
Sinkala who was a multi talented soul earned himself accolades with his skills in stretching his vocal muscles not to shout shout during his comic perfomance but to deliver high pitched notes as he loved to also sing
“He is a man who took comedy everywhere he went. It did not matter whether it was at a funeral or on a bus or indeed at State House. He would always make fun of himself first – the legendary head – before picking on anyone who would fall victim to his humour,” the family representative Lazalo Sinkala said.
Sinkala’s public comedy appearances started around 2002 when he was a meat quality inspector at Zambeef where he would always make jokes at his work.
Much to his workmates’ delight, he started offering his master of ceremonies services at friends’ weddings and family functions until he went commercial with bookings almost every weekend from across the country.
Sinkala’s life is a story that will be forever be told because he left a mark everywhere and his shows always ended with the audience commenting that their ribs were cracked to bits as he carried that lifestyle of spreading joy everywhere regardless of the location.
He also used his comedy to spread awareness and educated the masses in the health sector especially during the peak of the global pandemic.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba