For years, Darren Gamedze and Bongiswa Masondo were recognised as a pair. Through comedy skits, live performances and characters drawn from everyday life, the two built Angisati Ngitsin into a familiar name in Eswatini’s entertainment scene.
But behind the characters and the laughter was a creative partnership that eventually came to an end. Now, Darren is beginning to navigate his career as an independent comedian. In his first public discussion about the separation, he has spoken about the circumstances surrounding the breakup, the emotional impact it had on him, and the uncertainty that followed.
He shared these experiences during an hour-long interview on Banele WJLM’s podcast, which premiered yesterday. The conversation offered audiences a glimpse into the person behind the comedy, exploring his journey in entertainment, his family, his experiences as an artist and the challenge of moving forward after being part of a successful duo.
Darren’s interview was not presented as a dramatic confrontation. Much of the conversation remained relaxed, with the comedian sharing jokes and stories about his life. However, the discussion took a more personal turn when the subject of Angisati Ngitsin came up.
The partnership had become an important part of Darren’s professional identity. The duo’s comedy was built around familiar situations, memorable characters and observations about everyday life. Their work connected with audiences online and eventually developed into live performances. For Darren, the end of that partnership meant more than the loss of a professional arrangement.
He explained that when he first received the news that the partnership was ending, he tried to prevent it from happening. He said he fought for the duo to continue but eventually had to accept the decision.
The experience left the comedian hurt and disappointed. He acknowledged that he cried during the period that followed, offering a rare glimpse into the emotional side of a performer who is generally known for making other people laugh.
One piece of advice, however, helped him begin to reconsider his circumstances. Darren said someone reminded him that although the partnership had ended, his talent had not been taken away from him.
That distinction appears to have become important as he considers what comes next. Angisati Ngitsin’s story was not limited to online comedy.
Darren and Bongiswa developed a following through their skits before extending their work to live stages. Their performances placed them alongside comedians such as Sifiso Nene, Nonto R, Vusi Mongwe, Simphiwe Shembe and Abuti Lolo.
The duo also performed in South Africa, including at the Ehlanzeni TVET Pre-Exam Comedy Jam in Mpumalanga. In Eswatini, their appearances included the Southern African Nazarene University closing bash and other comedy events.
In 2024, the comedians took another step in their development when they brought their work to the theatre. Their one-act production, As We Were Saying, was staged at the Mbabane Theatre Club. The show incorporated characters from their online comedy and allowed the pair to explore a longer-form performance.
The production represented a shift from short digital skits to a more structured theatrical format. It also demonstrated how the two had developed their work into a broader entertainment offering. While the duo’s work had continued to attract attention, the circumstances surrounding its end became a subject of interest among followers.
Darren said he understood why people had questions, but he did not immediately feel the need to discuss the matter publicly. He also admitted that he was still trying to find closure. One of the questions he continues to grapple with is why he was removed from the partnership. He explained that the situation caused him to question whether he had been good enough and why he had been let go.
These reflections point to a difficult period for the comedian, particularly because the end of Angisati Ngitsin happened before he had fully established what his next professional chapter would look like.
Darren said people began paying close attention to his movements and statements, wanting to know what he would do after the separation. The attention came while he was still trying to understand the situation himself.
Despite the end of their working relationship, Darren maintained that his relationship with Bongiswa remains good. During the podcast, Bongiswa was contacted by phone and asked about the decision to end Angisati Ngitsin.
His explanation was that the two had grown and eventually reached a point where they were pursuing different paths. He did not present the separation as the result of a major disagreement between them.
The conversation between the two also suggested that the end of their creative partnership had not necessarily brought an end to their friendship. Darren acknowledged Bongiswa’s abilities as a comedian and said he wished him well in his future work.
However, he revealed that they had not seen each other since the split. He said they had planned to meet, but Bongiswa did not show up.
The issue of the Angisati Ngitsin social media page also came up during the interview. Darren responded humorously when asked whether he still had access to the duo’s page, maintaining that there had been no major incident between them. For him, the two had simply stopped working together.
His experience with the duo has also exposed him to different aspects of the entertainment industry, from developing characters for online audiences to performing in theatre and sharing stages with established comedians. However, working independently presents a different set of demands.
Without the partnership that audiences had become accustomed to, Darren will have to determine how he wants to shape his individual identity and what kind of work he wants to produce. During the podcast, he acknowledged that he had not yet fully developed his next project when the split took place.
That uncertainty has formed part of his experience since the partnership ended. Still, his comments about his talent suggest that he is beginning to separate his identity as a comedian from the duo that helped introduce him to a wider audience.
The end of Angisati Ngitsin may have closed one chapter of his career, but it has not brought his work in comedy to an end. As Darren continues to process what happened, his next challenge will be to translate his experience into a new creative direction.
For an artist who has spent years making audiences laugh alongside a partner, working alone may require a different approach to performance, content and career development. His conversation with Banele WJLM has now given audiences a clearer understanding of that transition.
The next chapter of Darren Gamedze’s career will be shaped not only by what he does independently, but also by how he chooses to define himself beyond the partnership that first made Angisati Ngitsin a household name in local comedy.
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