TALKING KAK
Stand-up comedian Eureka Nkese talks to about his new solo show,‘Man’s 2 Funny’, in Cape Town and Joburg, and his coming web series, ‘Kak Talks – a Ted Talk but we just talk kak’
STAND-UP comedian Eureka Nkese, 26, moved to Cape Town from Joburg two years ago, and divides his time between the two cities – and two careers.
By day, he works as a conceptual copywriter for an advertising agency and by night he is a comic.
Nkese has already performed three solo shows, but for the first time he will be presenting a solo show in his adopted city. Man’s 2 Funny is on at Alexander Upstairs from tonight until Sunday. It will be staged on April 27 at The Joburg Theatre,
You have opened for Loyiso Gola, Nik Rabinowitz and Skhumba Hlophe and gigged at festivals. Because the bulk of their work is in Joburg, are you better known in Joburg, than in Cape Town?
I started in Joburg and performed there for five years so I do have a lot fans in Joburg, but Cape Town is special to me because I like to think I found my voice here. And since I have quickly made fans.
Man’s 2 Funny is your fourth solo show, but is it the first time in the Mother City?
It is my first tour. It’s the best of the material I have worked on for the past 8 years. My dream with this show is for it to be so special for me that it launches everything. I’m putting everything into it and I am bringing in the storytelling style I have developed in Cape Town. I talk about my experiences. It is a great way to laugh and learn about South Africa, from the perspective of a guy who grew up in different provinces in the country.
I grew up in Vosloorus. My dad’s job required him to go to various cities, so I have always been a traveller. I went to school in Bloemfontein for three or four years. I spent two years as a child in Mafikeng and then I attended Willowridge High School in Pretoria and matriculated there. I started writing stand-up comedy material, sketches and plays in high school at the age of 15. My parents live in Pretoria so when I go back home these days, I go to Pretoria.
The name Eureka is a fabulous one. It is your given name, not a stage name. What’s the story?
Thank you. It is a great name, I agree. My name comes from being the only boy out of four children. My dad always wanted a boy, so when he did, he had a eureka moment and named me Eureka.”
For two years, you have lived Cape Town. Why did you leave the big city of Jozi – the hub of comedy – for Cape Town?
I love Cape Town. Certainly living here. Sometimes I miss the hustle and bustle because it can be a bit slow here, but I use my Joziness as a competitive advantage. I need it if I’m gonna attempt to go full steam ahead with two careers and a budding voice-over career.
Can you tell us about your web series, Kak Talks?
It’s like a Ted Talk but we just talk kak. I’m very excited.
We have had Kak Talks in Cape Town which were sold out. It became very big in a very short space of time. I am excited. That is my own passion project. The website launches in May. It will be Mzansi’s “got-to-have” for the funniest video clips. Details on my website www.eurekankese.co.za
I believe you are juggling two careers – by day, copywriter, and at night, comic
I truly love everything I do. I dream of one day having my own agency. Comedy and advertising are very similar. Stand-up is more performance and advertising is more writing. I love and enjoy both. I believe proceeds of your show (tomorrow night at Alexander Upstairs) will go to the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Athlone. I have three sisters. I am very close to my mother and I love my sisters. The whole thing… I feel like I can’t just say that I understand women’s issues and not try and help. It’s just, like, why understand it if you are not going to do anything about it. That’s why I am doing the show for the centre in Athlone. It’s something that’s very close to my heart. I am very excited about it. Tickets for Man’s 2 Funny at Alexander Upstairs (today to Saturday) are R80 at www.alexanderbar.co.za; R90 for tickets bought at the venue. Man’s 2 Funny will be on April 27 at the Joburg Theatre Tickets are R80. Book at Webtickets at 086 111 0005, online at www.webtickets.co.za or at Pick n Pay.