Tall guys bring joy to shoppers
Smiles, not money, more important for stilt-walkers
EVERYBODY stops to stare at Mocheko Nkoana as he strolls t hrough Newtown Mall. Some rush up to Nkoana to take pictures with him.
With the giant contraptions attached to his limbs, the 33-year-old is used to being the centre of attention – and looming large.
Nkoana is a stilt-walker. Dressed in an unusually-sized bright costume, a makarapa, and standing two-and-a-half metres tall on his wooden stilts, Nkoana makes his way through the Joburg mall, towering over shoppers.
Nkoana, who has been a stilt-walker for 13 years, and his fellow stilt-walker, Nthabiseng Jele, are spending the day at the mall in the Joburg CBD to spread some festive cheer.
Nkoana and Jele aren’t paid to walk around on their stilts at the mall: they are doing it purely to bring joy to shoppers.
“Not everything is about money. There are more important things in life, like making people smile,” he says.
It’s their busiest time of the year: the pair are fully booked every weekend for the remainder of the festive period.
Nkoana was introduced to the art while working on an inner-city project and has been doing it full-time ever since.
“I enjoyed it so much that I told my mom to forget about enrolling me in college.”
The Limpopo-born street performer spent months learn- ing to perfect his art.
“I started learning with very short stilts. I would hold on to the walls in my house and learn how to balance on the stilts.”
Once Nkoana was comfortable on stilts, he began entertaining crowds in the Joburg CBD. He now runs Gauteng Special Projects, which specialises in stilt-walking.
He has trained and mentored 40 other people in stilt-walking.
They have become the largest group of stilt-walkers in the country, who perform dance routines as well as juggling and balloon modelling.
“My mom is actually shocked that stilt-walking has allowed me to travel the country and be part of such major events,” says Nkoana, who dreams of taking his skills abroad.
As much as Nkoana loves his job, he acknowledges stilt-walking has its dangers. “Being so high up and balancing on wooden sticks can end badly if you’re not focused at all times.
“I’ve been very lucky –I have only ever fallen twice while on stilts. I damaged my hand quite badly, but other than that I haven’t had any injuries.”
It’s not just about immaculate balancing skills – you have to be a people’s person.
“We’re interacting with people all the time, so if you are socially awkward you’ll never succeed in this job. It not only teaches you about balance, but also how to get along with people, and how to entertain them. It is something I love.”