Khumo Makamu
Kimberley captured the heart of Award-winning South African comedian and ventriloquist Conrad Koch and his world-famous puppet, Chester. The duo recently visited the City that Sparkles for a two-day performance at the Hull Street Theatre.
Apart from Chester’s jokes about Kimberley’s portable two-roomed airport on social media, Koch said the city’s remarkable diversity surprised him, with its rich culture and the different languages.
“This is the centre of the country. People here are clued up about their surroundings. I have heard Setswana, Afrikaans, isiXhosa and isiZulu used in one conversation; it was confusing at first, but impressive,” he joked.
The 48-year-old, Koch, shared his journey in comedy and satire was shaped by apartheid, began in Cape Town while he was still a student.
He completed his Master’s degree in Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town, after the end of apartheid.
“I didn’t grow up in a strongly political family,” Koch recalls. “They were aware, but not activists. I still remember my mom saying, ‘ Count your lucky stars you’re not a black South African’. She was clearly saying this because of the disadvantages surrounding me at that time, a statement that stayed with me.”
Koch’s academic background soon found its way into the screen after completing his studies, when he became involved in ‘Late Night with Loyiso,’ a political comedy show hosted by his friend Loyiso Gola. “That’s where Chester made his first major political appearance, interviewing figures such as Mmusi Maimane and even Ronald Lamola when he was still in the ANC Youth League. Chester, as known to his audiences, evolved into a tool for exploring power relations, racism, and social dialogue. Chester shouts at politicians because that’s his job,” Koch explains with his of humour.
“If you’re going to deal with power, you have to understand racism in South Africa,” he explained that the character was refined over time to accommodate all racial and cultural lines.
Despite tackling sensitive topics, Koch said he has learned to be very careful with statements made by Chester. He highlighted how South Africa’s strong freedom of speech laws helped him throughout his journey, though he often consults lawyers before performances. “I’m cautious by nature. That’s probably the anthropologist in me,” he said.
While Chester is known for sharp political commentary, Koch says modern shows balance satire with fun. “Politics is about 10 to 20 minutes. The rest is pure entertainment.”
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