With apartheid behind us, South Africans need to make fun of themselves and their differences and get over the past. So says comedian and actor Sivuyile Ngesi.
With apartheid behind us, South Africans need to make fun of themselves and their differences and get over the past. So says comedian and actor Sivuyile Ngesi.
And that's exactly what he does in his stand-up comedy show, DEKAF, which is seeing the Scout Hall packed every night this Festival. Affectionately known as Siv, he's a product of the new generation: Black but sounds white, can swim and likes dating white women.
He does an honest and excellent job of joking about the uncontrollable habits of black and white people. These jokes take a crack at everything from white people who can't pronounce black names to black people swimming – or rather, attempting to swim.
Ngesi delivers a hilarious and energetic performance that makes you think to yourself, yeah that's actually true, black people do act like that. It stings at first, but then you can't help but laugh it off. Like how black people treasure their airtime and to save money make use of the "Please Call Me" a cellphone tool unheard of among white people.
"This is my third year doing comedy," he told the crowd at his first performance on Thursday. The 2010 winner for the National Arts Festival Golden Ovation Award for comedy, Ngesi is full-time actor based in Cape Town, whose film roles include Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood.
On his official website he writes, "My career started when I was spotted walking home from swim class. "A year later I was touring Asia with Les Miserable in the role of Gavroshe! Coming home, I went back to my speech and drama lessons, shot a million ads and then of course I still had to wash dishes for my mom."
