From The World Stands Up

2003

More Daliso Chaponda videos

Malawian Daliso Chaponda began his comedy career in Canada in 2001, quickly building to his first one-man show, Feed This Black Man. His 2004 show Don’t Let Them Deport Me was a thinly-disguised plea to have his Canadian visa extended . However, the ploy failed - but not before he performed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2005.

He then moved to South Africa, where he continued to work as a comedy writer and performer. More recently he has moved to the UK, where he has established himself on the Jongleurs circuit of largish clubs. In 2007, he appeared in the Big Value shows at the Edinburg Fringe.

In addition to stand-up, Chaponda is also a fiction writer. In 2002 he was a finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest and in 2005 he was shortlisted for the P&E Award for online writing.

Daliso Chaponda: An African Perspective – Westerners Calm Down! - Fringe 2009
Live Review

The world comes to Edinburgh every August, but even so Daliso Chaponda is surely the only Malawian comic here. Though now based in Britain, he came via Canada, where he picked up the slick, joke-driven style and easy audience banter of North American comics, without dulling the fact he has a unique perspective on the world.

His exhortation for Westerners to ‘calm down’ is a reference to the fact that what may seem like a major crisis to us – and he means the recession, especially – pales in comparison to the deadly serious problems in Africa. With one foot in each world, this is a decent way of linking both strands of his material with his naturally optimistic outlook.

Every gag here is delivered with a broad grin and an astute social awareness. Yes, there are references to that dreaded word ‘issues’ but done with a playful wit through the eyes of an observational comedian, rather than any one with an inflexible political agenda. He has the air of a black Jerry Seinfeld more than an angry young(ish) man.

There are a few easy jibes here – lots of easy ‘where you from?’ interaction, obvious comments about the homoerotic element of sport or the inaccuracy in describing obesity as an ‘epidemic’ – but there’s a lot more you won’t have heard before. The reverse-racism episode when a white friend stayed with his relatives in Malawi is especially sweet.

The fatalistic Chaponda puts some of himself in the jokes, too, but ensuring his experiences are the set-ups for gags rather than probing too deeply. His father’s shameful family secret, his issues with an ex, and even a traumatic childhood experience are all efficiently processed into punchlines; though an hour-long Fringe show would allow him the latitude to explore these in more depth, if he so wanted.

But he’s not that sort of comic; he has a keen sense of economy that means he usually only wants to impart enough information to make the payoff work, no more, no less. And the gags do work. He is funny. Calm down.

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Agree with the general tone of the other comments on here. Daliso has his moments but he lacks the killer gags of other, more established comedians. Some funny moments, lots of jokes that make you smile but very few that requires surgery to stitch your sides back up. Strangely, I think he would be better suited going of first - rather than last as when I saw him - as this would warm the audience up nicely. He just doesn't have it to be top billing, unfortunately.

Sally, January 2013

I saw Daliso tonight in Middlesbrough and thought I'd come on here to see others' opinions on him. I have to say that I'm shocked at the negative comments on here. Chortle often has very positive comments about very average comedians, but in this case it seems the complete opposite is happening! I thought he had excellent stage presence, and his stories almost always led to great punchlines. He was one of three to take the stage tonight (one was pretty good, but not as 'professional' as Daliso, and the other died). I'd have to say that Daliso is the only one I'd pay to see again.

Matthew Tonge, December 2012

I apologize for the sex jokes Weddoes. Alas, fornication amuses me. Hopefully I'll be more highrow if you see me again.

Daliso Chaponda, August 2012

After reading the comments below, I thought I'd check out "Malawi's only Stand-up comedian" as it amused me that he thought three mildly negative comments was akin to a hate campaign. Unfortunately this was the only amusing thing about Daliso Chaponda and the criticism he has received is justified. A little too preoccupied with sex and not enough knock-out, killer gags. Reminded me of those "gentle" comedy shows that used to be served up by ITV in the mid-80s that stopped being funny once the novelty wore off.

Weddoes, August 2012

Daliso is a good comedian but he could do more to maximize his unique selling points - namely, being an African comedian. There aren't very many of them around and he could make a lot more of this. Also, hearing his tales of Africa is informative. I think Brits dislike him because his general style is casual-conversational, not really the norm in Britain. Also, his global perspective might not appeal to those who think a holiday in Majorca represents the height of sophistication.

Subedei, August 2012

I get so much hate on this site but not any others. It's frustrating. If you're making your mind up based on these comments I'd rather you judge for yourself from the video above

Daliso Chaponda, April 2012

Mediocre would be the best way to describe Daliso Chaponda. He can raise the odd smile but very few belly laughs. He was the headline act on the bill when I saw him and the night ended on a rather flat note as a result as the two comedians on before him were much funnier. He's the sort of comedian you don't mind missing in order to go to the bar as you know you're not missing much.

Will Black, March 2012

Funny, would be better if he expanded on his African material as that was really original and good

M, October 2011

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