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Some of South Africa’s funniest comedians are putting on a show in memory of Nelson Mandela and his centenary. The line-up includes the likes of latest Netflix sensations Tumi Morake and Riaad Moosa, along with veteran funnymen Barry Hilton, Marc Lottering and David Kau. They will be joined by Nik Rabinowitz and Chris Forrest.
But how do you joke about a late statesman and liberation icon?
In search of funny one-liners, City Press approached a number of these comedians and others, but most were too afraid to even attempt anything like this.
Here are the few who did:
John Vlismas
The man responsible for events including the Comedy Choice Awards, and who is also part of the popular Big 5 Stand Up Comedy Show said: “Mandela loved making people laugh. That is why he spoke like Mr Bean from the moment he was free.”
Tumi Morake
The daring comic whose show, #WTF Tumi, on SABC3 is well worth a watch was shocked at first when we asked for a joke about uTata.
She chuckled and said: “Actually, I don’t joke about him. But I can tell you about my first experience meeting him and the conversation with my mother.
“So I met him and got to shake his hand. After telling my mum, she told me not to wash my hand and to find the nearest lotto area to auction it off because I had touched Tata’s hands.
“I don’t have a joke about him. I don’t make jokes just for the sake of them, they actually mean something to me and actually make people laugh.”
Mpho Popps
The tall gent hosted the SA Music Awards earlier this year. He told City Press that his Nelson Mandela jokes are really funny. So funny in fact that it would be best for you to catch his next performance. Mxm!
