Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is Thenjiwe Moseley, a South African comedian with a mission to make the world a better place one joke at a time. 2023 is my debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and I am bringing my comedy special THE MANDELA EFFECT, where I share my experience of growing up in apartheid South Africa and what I have learnt from travelling to countries such as the USA and the United Kingdom. I also share tips on raising my son as an African mother who grew up in a a completely different environment to where I am raising my son.
How would you describe your show?
My show is called the Mandela Effect, which refers to a phenomenon where a large number of people misremember a historical fact, and in my show I take the audience on a journey that reminds them historical facts that the majority of people in first world countries have forgotten about Africa.
What is your favourite part of your show?
My favourite part of the show is when the audience is not sure whether they should laugh or feel guilty and apologise.
If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why?
If my show had a theme song it would be Miriam Makeba's click song, I am pretty sure I am the only show where people will hear clicks in the whole festival.
What is one thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
I hope the audience will leave the show feeling educated. The aim of this show is not only to entertain but also to diffuse tension and allow the audience to enter my world as an African living in the UK.
If you could add a surprise celebrity cameo to your show, who would it be and why?
My surprise celebrity cameo would be Trevor Noah. Although we are both South African, we have never shared the stage, by the time I started doing comedy he was already in the USA and I think the audience would definitely be in for a treat.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest festival in the world, growing up in one of the most violent and poverty stricken township in South Africa I had no role models so for me to be able to travel the world doing what I love is for every little girl growing up in the township to know that their dreams are valid and that if they can dream it, they can achieve it.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
The expense differentiates the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from other festivals, it's expensive! I recently did the Johannesburg Comedy Festival where I was paid to perform. The cost of accommodation in Edinburgh is just too much!
What is one thing you would change about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
Other than the crippling cost of accommodation I would reduce the length of time of the fringe, I would have it run for 7 to 10 days. A month is too long.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I believe that comedy is best friends with tragedy and I grew up in apartheid South Africa. Fortunately, I grew up in a community of story tellers, in my tribe we communicate through music and storytelling, and we also laugh at our pain so it's natural for me to perform and to turn a tragic event into comedy. I also come from a very strong political background with parents who were freedom fighters and I hold a law degree so it should be no surprise that my comedy can be quite political.
What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?
The best thing about performing for a live audience is the immediate response, I love it when the audience is laughing and clapping at the same time because I know I have not only entertained but I have also educated.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?
I was recording my comedy special WRONG ROLE MODEL in my home town Durban and the show had sold out within days so it was exciting to know I would be performing to a full house. It clearly said on the posters that the show would be in English, only when I walked on stage the auditorium was full of primary school children, a school had brought primary school children to see the show, I don't think the teachers understood what stand up comedy was! They had judged it based on the family friendly TV shows that I act in. In a 1500 seater I had over 1000 primary school children who didn't speak English, so not only did I have to change the show to accommodate the majority of my audience who were under the age of 12 but I also had to perform in Zulu. Fortunately I had another show that evening and we recorded the second show. I felt so bad for the few adults who were there that I offered them free tickets to future shows. Since then I never make the mistake of not putting the age restriction.
What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?
I find outdoor Comedy shows challenging, in South Africa they do a lot of comedy picnics, I find it very difficult to perform for people who scattered all over the park and there is always the odd person who is playing their own music during the performance. In these shows instead of doing a comedy set I just have banter with the audience so I don't loose their attention.
Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?
I once had a woman approach me after the show to apologise for what her ancestors did, she was crying, I advised her to seek therapy.
What is your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when you're not performing? How do you relax and look after your mental health?
This year, 2023 will be my debut at the Fringe, I am looking forward to watching as many shows as I can and I also hope I will have time to explore the city of Edinburgh. I love a good massage and I plan to have one at the end of every week to relax and as part of looking after my mental health.
Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?
I am looking forward to seeing Matt Price's AS SEEN ON CCTV. Mr Price is one of the comedians I look up to, he is a gifted comedian with some of the most extraordinary and outrageous stories, I also want to know why he has a goat on his poster, an animal which has an important cultural significance in the Zulu culture. I am also looking forward to watching Steven N Allen's ALZHEIMER'S because not only is he a funny comedian but his show is on a topic that's close to my heart, in Africa Alzheimer's is perceived as witchcraft and sufferers are often violently attacked. I am heavily involved with educating communities in villages and townships about the disease so it will be interesting to hear a comedian's take on it.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about taking a show up to Edinburgh?If you’ve never been before, what would you say has been (potentially) the most useful?
It's my first time talking a show to Edinburgh and I would advise anybody thinking about taking a show to up to Edinburgh to start saving now and to be realistic about their expectations because I have heard too many stories of comedians who have mental breakdowns when their shows aren't getting the hype they were hoping to get.
When and where can people see your show?
THE MANDELA EFFECT
Venue 288
The Mashhouse
The cask Room
37 Guthrie Street
EH1 1JG
And where can people find you online?
- @thenjiwecomedy on all social media platforms
- @themandelaeffect23 Instagram
- https://instagram.com/thenjiwecomedy
- https://instagram.com/themandelaeffect23
- https://www.facebook.com/thenjiwecomedy
- https://youtube.com/@Thenjiwe
Thenjiwe debut stand up show The Mandela Effect is at Just The Tonic – Cask Room at 2.25pm from 3rd – 28th August (not 14TH) for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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