Funny man and TV personality Tats Nkonzo is no stranger to the comedy scene. The 27-year-old comedian was born and raised at Mdantsane in Eastern Cape.
Nkonzo's interesting brand of strumming his humour on the guitar saw him land a segment on eTV's Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola. But his big break to perform comedy on TV began when he was a finalist in the first season of So You Think You're Funny contest to unearth stand-up comedians on SABC1.
He recently joined the cast of e.tv's reality competition SA's Got Talent Season 3.
On stage, he has been the opening act for comedians such as Nik Rabinowitz and Loyiso Gola.
Tats, along with Tumi Morake, hosted the first night of the MTN 18th Annual South African Music Awards earlier this year. Sowetan lets the comedian string us along to try and discover his mojo.
Who is Tats Nkonzo?
I am a comedian with a guitar. My comedy comes with strings attached.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Mdantsane. I remember only seeing white people when I travelled to East London to school.
What kind of a family did you grow up in?
I am from a typical family with hard-working parents who did all their best to make a better life for me and my siblings.
What makes you different from other comedians?
It is the guitar. I'm one of the few who uses it with an act.
What school did you go to?
I went to Selborne College in East London. I enjoyed my English lessons because it gave me a whole lot of freedom of speech.
When did you realise you could make people laugh?
When I was six months old, all the girls loved me. Kissing me, winking at me, touching me, I knew then ...
Share with us two jokes you will never forget.
Trevor Noah's joke about the maid taking over the house, ending up kicking out the wife and marrying the husband; and "This malt disfigured us" by Julius Malema when asked about the BEE's whisky penchant.
What was the worst joke you ever heard?
A Better Life For All.
Two people you admire in comedy?
They are too many to mention.
What inspires your jokes?
People's interactions and relationships.
What advice do you give to up-and-coming comedians?
They need to work hard and practise writing comedy. They also need to watch live comedy at shows and clubs to be exposed to real comedy.
TATS' FIRSTS
- My first performance was ...
It was at Underground in Melville four years ago. This is where I got to feel the audience's response.
- First bad experience with an audience
Wow . it was during the media launch of So You Think You're Funny Season 2; the people got bored and started chatting while I was still on stage. It was embarrassing.
It was during the Christmas holidays going to Edgars to buy clothes. I was dressed in jean-to-jean and the excitement was out of this world.
- First experienced love with .
Brooke Lobane, a girl I met in Grade 2.
- The first thing I do before going on stage is .
I get to the venue as early as possible so I can do my sound checks and mingle with the people.
Tats' comedy comes with strings attached
Funny man and TV personality Tats Nkonzo is no stranger to the comedy scene. The 27-year-old comedian was born and raised at Mdantsane in Eastern Cape.
Nkonzo's interesting brand of strumming his humour on the guitar saw him land a segment on eTV's Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola. But his big break to perform comedy on TV began when he was a finalist in the first season of So You Think You're Funny contest to unearth stand-up comedians on SABC1.
He recently joined the cast of e.tv's reality competition SA's Got Talent Season 3.
On stage, he has been the opening act for comedians such as Nik Rabinowitz and Loyiso Gola.
Tats, along with Tumi Morake, hosted the first night of the MTN 18th Annual South African Music Awards earlier this year. Sowetan lets the comedian string us along to try and discover his mojo.
Who is Tats Nkonzo?
I am a comedian with a guitar. My comedy comes with strings attached.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Mdantsane. I remember only seeing white people when I travelled to East London to school.
What kind of a family did you grow up in?
I am from a typical family with hard-working parents who did all their best to make a better life for me and my siblings.
What makes you different from other comedians?
It is the guitar. I'm one of the few who uses it with an act.
What school did you go to?
I went to Selborne College in East London. I enjoyed my English lessons because it gave me a whole lot of freedom of speech.
When did you realise you could make people laugh?
When I was six months old, all the girls loved me. Kissing me, winking at me, touching me, I knew then ...
Share with us two jokes you will never forget.
Trevor Noah's joke about the maid taking over the house, ending up kicking out the wife and marrying the husband; and "This malt disfigured us" by Julius Malema when asked about the BEE's whisky penchant.
What was the worst joke you ever heard?
A Better Life For All.
Two people you admire in comedy?
They are too many to mention.
What inspires your jokes?
People's interactions and relationships.
What advice do you give to up-and-coming comedians?
They need to work hard and practise writing comedy. They also need to watch live comedy at shows and clubs to be exposed to real comedy.
TATS' FIRSTS
It was at Underground in Melville four years ago. This is where I got to feel the audience's response.
Wow . it was during the media launch of So You Think You're Funny Season 2; the people got bored and started chatting while I was still on stage. It was embarrassing.
It was during the Christmas holidays going to Edgars to buy clothes. I was dressed in jean-to-jean and the excitement was out of this world.
Brooke Lobane, a girl I met in Grade 2.
I get to the venue as early as possible so I can do my sound checks and mingle with the people.
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