The comedy industry is often seen as a man’s world – but an Eastern Cape woman has just won a coveted comedy award that includes the country’s top comedians as previous winners.
Whittlesea-born Khanyisa Bunu has become the first female comedian to win the audience award at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards (CCA). The CCAs were held this past weekend at Montecasino in Johannesburg and they saw the likes of Trevor Noah, comedy legend Joe Mafela and the Goliath & Goliath show recognised for their work. There are nine categories, with three being newly introduced.
The audience choice award is the only one in which the public decides the winner by voting.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Bunu said the award was not just an achievement for her but also for other female comics.
“This award is a dream come true for me.
“It’s the recognition that I have always wanted but it’s also proof that women can be funny and that it does not matter where you come from – what matters is your skill and ultimately the people have spoken,” said Bunu.
In 2013 she was nominated for the same award but lost out to 2008 So You Think You’re Funny talent search winner Sifiso Nene.
Bunu, a former geography and English teacher, made it to the top six of the same search and since then has appeared in the 99% Xhosa Comedy show at the Soweto Comedy Festival.
In 2011 and 2012 she had a one-woman show at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and she is also a resident comedian on Umhlobo Wenene’s Masigoduke afternoon drive show.
Bunu has written a book, Umbhodamo, a Xhosa language novel published by Maskew Miller which is read by Eastern and Western Cape Grade 9 pupils.
She said the comedy industry was “very male-dominated” and still “belonged to certain individuals” but said the remedy was to “remain solid in your craft and hone your skills, then you will find your breakthrough”. Bunu said she received flack when she gave up teaching for comedy.
“What is important with any career and not just comedy is to have heart in what you do and to always strive to beat your previous best.
“If you do not love what you do, ultimately it will not make you happy,” she said.
Asked what her latest favourite joke is, she replied: “Two colleagues fought at the office and injured each other. After the fight they held each other’s hands, went to the boss and asked for compensation because they were injured on duty.” — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Comic cracks new ground
Whittlesea-born Khanyisa Bunu has become the first female comedian to win the audience award at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards (CCA). The CCAs were held this past weekend at Montecasino in Johannesburg and they saw the likes of Trevor Noah, comedy legend Joe Mafela and the Goliath & Goliath show recognised for their work. There are nine categories, with three being newly introduced.
The audience choice award is the only one in which the public decides the winner by voting.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Bunu said the award was not just an achievement for her but also for other female comics.
“This award is a dream come true for me.
“It’s the recognition that I have always wanted but it’s also proof that women can be funny and that it does not matter where you come from – what matters is your skill and ultimately the people have spoken,” said Bunu.
In 2013 she was nominated for the same award but lost out to 2008 So You Think You’re Funny talent search winner Sifiso Nene.
Bunu, a former geography and English teacher, made it to the top six of the same search and since then has appeared in the 99% Xhosa Comedy show at the Soweto Comedy Festival.
In 2011 and 2012 she had a one-woman show at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and she is also a resident comedian on Umhlobo Wenene’s Masigoduke afternoon drive show.
Bunu has written a book, Umbhodamo, a Xhosa language novel published by Maskew Miller which is read by Eastern and Western Cape Grade 9 pupils.
She said the comedy industry was “very male-dominated” and still “belonged to certain individuals” but said the remedy was to “remain solid in your craft and hone your skills, then you will find your breakthrough”. Bunu said she received flack when she gave up teaching for comedy.
“What is important with any career and not just comedy is to have heart in what you do and to always strive to beat your previous best.
“If you do not love what you do, ultimately it will not make you happy,” she said.
Asked what her latest favourite joke is, she replied: “Two colleagues fought at the office and injured each other. After the fight they held each other’s hands, went to the boss and asked for compensation because they were injured on duty.” — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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