“Women are not funny,” said no one, ever.
Women are hilarious.
Don’t believe me? Here is a list of South African women who are super funny, so you can cry about how wrong you are.
Spoiler: most of them are comedians, which automatically makes them funnier than you.
1. Mel Jones
@MelJonesComic will take laughter to the next level at #CTFunnyFestival at @BaxterTheatre. Book at @Computicket (https://t.co/7FtSm2gDfB). pic.twitter.com/V5zQLOMsfz
— Funny Festival (@JiveCTFunnyFest) June 20, 2017
A Capetonian comedienne who I’ve had the pleasure of seeing perform once, Mel Jones is a master of comedy.
A single mother and resident of my own home town of Mitchells Plain, Mel is a professional comedian, MC and entertainer. She has appeared on the Phat Joe Show, SABC 3’s Comedy Showcase, and even Comedy Central.
According to her website, Mel’s philosophy on life is: “You’ve got to laugh at it.”
2. Anne Hirsch
WATCH: That Time Marc Lottering Lost It On The Anne Hirsch Show https://t.co/aVUEkDaS0l pic.twitter.com/QK6xNNriV2
— ZANEWS (@zanews) June 28, 2017
If ever there was a definition for “awkward charm,” Anne Hirsch would be it.
Anne was born in Bloemfontein and moved to Cape Town, where she studied Drama at Stellenbosch University and went on to do her honours and master’s degrees in Theatre and Performance at UCT.
In 2009, she won SABC’s stand-up competition; So You Think You’re Funny. Currently, Anne has her own web series, surprisingly named “The Anne Hirsch Show.” Gasp.
3. Tumi Morake
“Is your network a slaap tiger?” Yep, that’s Tumi.
Tumi is a comedienne who’s not afraid to make fun of anyone, including her husband, her kids, and herself. Her comedic ability has earned her the title of SA’s First Lady of Comedy.
She’s performed all over the country and has brought her comedic brand to places like Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Botswana. She’s even performed at the famed Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.
4. Suzelle DIY
Julia Anastasopoulos (yes, that’s her real name) is the woman behind one of the funniest YouTube channels I’ve ever seen.
She and her sidekick, Marianne, teach viewers how to make many things. Or they would, if everyone would stop laughing and actually pay attention. Her signature brand of comedy has left all her 121 000 YouTube subscribers in stitches.
Her show was featured on Comedy Central in February. The show was rated PG; which I find weird, because Suzelle has uttered the words “Oh f*k” at least once every episode.
5. Jailoshini Naidoo
Acting, comedy, presenting, voice acting, scriptwriting; she’s done it all.
Jailoshini Naidoo is a presenter on SABC 2’s variety show, Eastern Mosaic and has starred in British-made film, The Eastern Bride. She currently is a cast member on the movie, Keeping Up With The Kandasamys.
An internationally recognised comic, Jailoshini has performed at the Edinburgh Festival, and at private functions including the Prince of Dubai’s birthday party in the Seychelles.
6. Brenda Ngxoli
If you’re thinking “Where did I see that face before?” she was in that KFC advert, where she said: “Turn down for what, for whom, and why?”
Brenda Ngxoli is one of the best actresses our country has to offer. She has starred in SABC 1 sitcom, Home Affairs and was nominated for an International Emmy award for her role in the series in 2007.
She is currently a star on the drama series, Rockville and runs her own comedy-based YouTube channel.
7. Shimmy Isaacs
Shimmy is a snarky, fast-talking, unapologetic stand-up comic who I’ve had the immense pleasure of seeing live.
She’s got an honours degree in Screenwriting and Acting from the African Film, Television and Live Performance University, (which, for some reason, is abbreviated to AFDA).
A master of the comedic arts, she’s also worked with other legends of the industry: Kurt Schoonraad, Marc Lottering, Loyiso Gola, and David Kau.
8. Celeste Ntuli
Celeste was one of the top 10 contestants on So You Think You’re Funny in 2009, and has since propelled herself to comedic fame.
She was born in Empangeni, and before entering the competition, she was working in a bookshop and doing stand-up comedy as a side gig.
The exposure she gained from the show allowed her to pursue a full-time comedy job.
She has since made multiple appearances at various comedy festivals, as well as on TV shows, such as eNCA’s Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola – and various radio shows.
-Tyler Roodt
