TUMI slays on stage

Marvin Charles chats to the comedian about life, being a mom, taking her show on the road and changing the world – one giggle at a time

SHE IS dubbed South Africa’s Queen of Comedy with her strong, unapologetic, fierce and wicked sense of humour. Tumi Morake is a force to be reckoned with.

She is expected to grace the stage at Caledon Casino Hotel and Spa with one show only next month to highlight her new adventure into motherhood.

Morake is set to embark on her first South African tour and her show will focus on her finding herself through the schizophrenia of motherhood, wife-hood and South African-hood.

She began her career in several murky clubs in 2006 and has grown to become one of the country’s most sought-after comedians.

Morake has earned the reputation of being a whirlwind force in a male-dominated industry.

This weekend Cape Town audiences can expect “thought-provoking laughter and lots of nonsense”, Morake says.

“I think every woman who does comedy well in this country carries that title ( Queen of Comedy) and I wear it with pride. It has allowed me to also have a throne to slump into when my feet hurt.”

Morake made history last year by becoming the first woman to be crowned Comic of the Year at the Sixth Annual Savannah Comics’ Choice Awards.

“It was incredible. An affirmation of that magnitude is so encouraging and frightening at the same time. Now I am scared to let down those comics who voted for me,” Morake says.

Even as a child her life was always busy. She grew up playing soccer on clay soil with her cousins at a time when the country was embroiled in political turmoil.

“I was such a talkative, inquisitive child. I would force my dad to read comic strips out loud to me.”

She was born into a family of 10. Her parents were excited when she told them she wanted to pursue a career in comedy.

“My mom used to make me feel like she was living vicariously through me and loved the idea of me being in showbiz. Dad’s amused. He knows he’s the real comedian in the family.

Morake remembers taking the stage in 2014 when Comedy Central presented the show Colourblind at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City.

She was among the top acts, along with Joey Rasdien, Chris Forrest and Ndumiso Lindi.

During Morake’s segment she pulled no punches and didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room – her “colour”.

She ignited thorny issues such as race and sex.

“Comedy is about feeling good, we must have that chemistry. I’ll take constructive criticism but it is to be shoved where the sun doesn’t shine if it doesn’t build me,” she laughs.

Morake speaks unashamedly about her life experiences. Last year she opened up about being raped when she was younger. Being a comedian allowed her to control her feelings.

“I have learnt to listen, to handle my emotions and not to take everything personally”, she says.

Morake wants to change the world one giggle at a time and “to ban the government from being given weekends because they always come back with babalaas-infused ramblings that cripple the rand”.

“Seriously though. I want to travel outside our borders on the continent and improve my craft.”

Morake is hosting Red Cake, and the second season of Point of Order on SABC. However, she has bigger plans. “I would like to finish my first feature film and try my hand at radio some day,” she said.

Beyond her comedy she has been the face of major campaigns with Vodacom and Kellogg’s.

Morake has also produced shows that have been nominated in a variety of categories at the South African Film and Television Awards.

The live show is rated PG and tickets cost R100 and are available through Computicket and at the venue. The show starts at 8pm.

Tumi Morake is a force to be reckoned with.