Dad and daughter call it a day
ADURBAN father and daughter team, who have been entertaining audiences for 14 years, have called it a day.
Comedian and emcee, Mano Nayager, 52, of Effingham, will now spend his free time with his family and dabbling in water sports, while Nikita will focus on her studies.
“My younger daughter Tenille, who is 12, came to me in August and asked how much would it be for my time. She said she wanted to make a date and needed an hour of my time.
“It may have been a little joke on her part but I kept thinking about what she had said and I knew I had to spend more time at home with my family,” said Nayager, who owns a panel beating business.
Nikita, 16, who has been sharing the stage with her dad for 12 years and is a Grade 10 pupil at Northlands Girls’ High, accepted her father’s decision.
“Show business is in my blood but I am at that point in my life, where I need to focus on my studies,” said Nikita, who hopes to become a pilot.
Nayager started out emceeing and, because he wanted to be different, had Nikita join as a curtain-raiser act. “He tricked me into holding the microphone on stage at the age of four. Can you believe it?” said Nikita.
She then started doing 90 second comedy skits, would introduce her dad and belly dance off stage as he entered.
Nayager admitted he also tried to get Tenille to be part of the act when she was younger but that did not go down too well. “She just stood and cried on stage.”
He said people often referred to him and Nikita as being “bad company”.
He explained: “We are daring and willing to do anything to entertain people, including dressing in saris, modelling and dancing. Anything to entertain,” he joked.
Father and daughter have worked together in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Despite the curtain closing on their act, Nayager said spending quality time with his loved ones was more important.