Comedian Tyson Ngubeni has put Soweto on the map by making it into the top 10 finalists of Comedy Central’s amateur stand-up competition.
This is after making it to the next round of the show, titled The Box Comedy Nights.
The finalists will compete against each other, with the winner landing a slot on Comedy Central’s monthly local special, called Comedy Central Presents… Live at Parker’s on June 26, hosted by comedy legend Joe Parker.
The show will be broadcast on August 16 on DStv channel 122.
Speaking to The Star yesterday morning just before his lectures, the fourth-year journalism student at Rhodes University said he was hoping for the best.
“I have a strong, deep relationship with comedy. I love it, feel it and think about it all the time,” he said.
Ngubeni said he was following in his grandfather’s footsteps as a performer.
Ngubeni won against Zimbabwean business analyst Farhan Esat in the event on May 12.
He is now nine people away from becoming a household name on the South African comedy circuit.
Other finalists who have made it include Arieh Esra, Mo Mothebe, Zakkiya Khan, Glen Biderman-Pam, Lumkile Tyese and Adriaan de Klerk.
“I didn’t take it seriously until 2010. I performed in a restaurant in Melville, and also entertained my res mates in the dining hall before doing it for everyone to see,” said Ngubeni.
“I love telling jokes and making people laugh. It’s entertaining,” he said, adding that he was hoping to be a journalist and a comedian one day.
“I can’t choose. I want to work in both the entertainment and media industries,” he added.
Comedy Central is currently broadcasting the weekly shows held every Sundays at POPArt Theatre, at the Maboneng Precinct, until May 26.
Ngubeni will be in Joburg next month for the final show, which he’s hopes to win.
Photo Caption: Tyson Ngubeni from Diepkloof, Soweto, is the latest contestant to proceed to the next stage of Comedy Centrals amateur stand-up comedy contest
By KUTLWANO OLIFANT
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/tyson-grabs-spot-in-stand-up-contest-1.1517736#.UZcWZ7Wnqu8