Renowned comedian Daliso Chaponda on Friday debuted at Apollo Auditorium in Blantyre in a show dubbed Laugh Out Loud.
It was the first time for the comedian, who is based in the United Kingdom, to perform at Apollo Auditorium, a venue that was a haven of cinema in the past years before its closure in the 1990s.
Amaryllis Hotel and other partners reopened it last year, when they started hosting events, with Daliso getting his slot on Friday.
This kick-started his 2026 activities.
Ahead of the comedy show, Amaryllis Hotel General Manager Ramy Waheed had announced that the event was sold out.
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And, true to this, a long queue of cars snaking from a curio market in the heart of the commercial city, down to old Nandos was testimony that people had showed up for the comedy party.
The last time Daliso, son to Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda, performed in the country was two years ago.
Unlike in his previous outings, where he starred at venues such as a hotel, this was the first time for him to star at what he described as a “proper theatre venue”.
Daliso’s previous visits have seen him sharing the stage with other comedians but Laugh Out Loud was a one-act performance that saw him performing for close to two hours, sharing comics that sent people into stitches.
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It was a platform where, for once, people forgot their challenges but got immersed in laughter.
With the audience not keeping time, he started his comedy show with an audience engagement, with some being asked as to why they came in late before building up the momentum.
The stage never went dry, as Daliso kept things active, joking on a number of issues, including the recent fuel hike, politics, relationships and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
There was also a moment when he took aim at Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman, who walked in with his wife late.
The mayor had his seat reserved but his coming in late saw him occupying another one, which saw Daliso questioning the mayor as to why he had not sat on his chair.
The chair remained unoccupied until the end of the show.
His interaction with the audience at will, where he also gave them an opportunity to ask him questions, enriched his set.
Daliso’s jokes about issues, both local and international, resonated well with the audience.
His line-up did also not skip stories about his father and family.
Daliso, who also starred in Lilongwe the following day, left the stage while it was still bubbly before he returned for a photograph session.
“Great venue, some people were late but that is the Malawian way of doing things and we are training them that we start on time,” the 2017 Britain Got Talent finalist said.
He said he brought in new experience with fresh jokes and that he gave people what they wanted.
“I will be back. I will have more performances in Malawi this year,” Daliso said
