Catch our own Khanyisa Bunu on stage for Kings and Queens of Comedy

KEMPTON Park’s very own comedy queen Khanyisa Bunu will be bringing people to tears with her jokes on stage on July 21.

Bunu, a school teacher turned comedienne and actress, will be performing at Kings & Queens of Comedy at the Sandton Convention Centre with other comedy heavyweights for a show of hysterical proportions.

She will be joined by Joey Rasdien as the MC, Trevor Gumbi, Tumi Morake, Mpho Popps, Krijay Govender, Mark Banks, Muthu Murugan, Ndumiso Lindi, Rob van Vuuren and Tracey-Lee Oliver.

Described as a fan favourite, Bunu made history in 2015 by becoming the first woman to win the audience choice award at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards and has also made her mark on SA TV with roles in Scandal! and Ses’Top La.

Growing up in the Eastern Cape and starting her career in education, she has always been the funny one in the family, but never actually made a “conscious” decision to get into comedy. Rather, comedy chose her.

“I had just resigned from my job a couple of years ago and was still at home in the Eastern Cape when I saw an ad on TV calling people to audition for ‘So You Think You Are Funny’.”

Not thinking much of it, she auditioned.

“I auditioned, thinking it was one of those you say a funny joke, make people laugh, win a prize and go home. But I made it to the next round. Next thing I knew, people were calling and asking about me.”

She eventually moved to Gauteng in 2011 and since then, she has never looked back.

And believe it or not, the aspiring filmmaker even spent eight months teaching English at Rhodesfield Technical High school.

“Hence why I moved to Kempton because I needed to be closer to work,” explains the Xhosa-speaking Bunu.

But it was not long before showbiz demanded her talent full time when she was head-hunted and cast in Ses’Top La, where she played the part of Nobuhle, a domestic worker.

“Because of the demanding schedule at Ses’Top La, which we shot for six weeks straight, I had to resign from my job. Then after that, I got a role in Scandal! as ‘MamaDuna’, also a maid.

She describes the part as more challenging than her previous role because this is a drama series, so there’s no humour involved.

“However, I’m enjoying the challenge and I auditioned for the part deliberately because I believe as an actress, I must be diverse and be able to play any part.”

Making a move to become an entertainer has paid off as she has performed in Nigeria in July last year as well as in New York at the Film Festival in 2015. Most recently, she also performed at Backs Only at Emperors Palace in June.

Follow her on Facebook as Khanyisa Bunu, on Instagram as bunukhanyisa and Twitter as @khanyisa_bunu.

Don’t miss the Kings and Queens of Comedy on Friday night. The show is rated PG16 and starts at 8pm. Tickets from R185 and are available through Computicket.

Another great production brought to you by Blu Blood. Celebrating five years of Kings and Queens of Comedy, the show started in 2012 in Johannesburg and has since grown to be one of the leading comedy brands in South Africa, promoting and showcasing local talent from around the country.

Follow Blu Blood on Twitter @BluBloodSA or visit www.blublood.com for more information.