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HAVE MERCY: Tshepo Twala PHOTO:VELI NHLAPO

 In the townships you are usually nicknamed by the way you look. Often this could cripple a person's ego 

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The usual congregation is there but today the pastor is sitting with his fellow worshippers as comedian Tshepo Twala, also known as Ditsebe.com, takes centre stage on his latest comedy DVD.

He greets the pastor sitting in the front row with an opening shot to warm up the audience: "I like you wena bab' mfundisi you don't imitate abo TD Jakes but remain true to your own craft."

Ditsebe is a funnyman with a difference. While many comedians pepper their material with crass language and know no limits when it comes to their jokes - Ditsebe jokes for Jesus as he targets mostly Christian audiences with his stand-up skits.

To get the congregation fired up Ditsebe shares a story about when he was at a church conference and three pastors were ministering way over the heads of their audience.

All of them were concisely quoting their Bible verses but no one in the audience could understand their message as the learned pastors used bombastic words and phrases trying to impress their audiences, without realising they were losing them completely.

The congregation roars in laughter since they relate to Ditsebe's experience.

Ditsebe is a devoted Christian and one of the few working gospel comedians in Mzansi.

"It saddens me that as Christians we've come to put God in a box," he says

"People have made out God to be this serious old man, but here is this young man (as he refers to himself), who has an intimate relationship with the Lord and proclaims that there is a humorous side to this guy that you all didn't know about."

His stage name, Ditsebe, which is a SeSotho word for ears, describes Twala's small, perky ears.

"In the townships you are usually nicknamed by the way you look. Often this could cripple a person's ego, so when people teased me about my ears I decided to be very smart about it and embrace it," he says.

The 29-year-old from Vosloorus grew up in a very religious family.

"Church was very big in my family. I started going to Sunday school from a very young age with my mother. My family were dutiful church-goers on Sundays as well as some days during the week".

His comedic character growing up earned him nicknames such as malanzana , machanana or magwarana - which all mean joker.

"I was quite a good soccer player at school but then I broke my ankle, which ended my soccer dream. My mother was all spiritual about it when she claimed 'God doesn't want you to play soccer'," he chuckles.

Ditsebe joined the church choir and was asked to be the MC of a church event.

"My pastor was so impressed that he asked me to perform for four more consecutive weeks and since that experience this gospel comedian has never looked back."

Twala has been an MC for many gospel and corporate events. He presented the annual Crown Gospel Awards last year, as well as their nominees' event this year.
 

Comments

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Wed May 22 07:43:44 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 25, 2012

Papage

Is he, but there are somethings that you must not joke about, they create anger and hate, some peole can not take jokes so all jokers be very carefull.
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Oct 25, 2012

MarryMeNow

people always seem to think they know what is good for God. Make jokes Mr ears and we will laugh. You made me really laugh when you said you were a before and the big guy next to you was an after during the Crown Gospel Awards.
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Oct 25, 2012

Galfrend

Comedians of this country are not funny mara,they are not creative, they pick on people,tease and they call that comedy..
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Oct 25, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

.His sta.ge n.ame, Dit.sebe, whi.ch is a S.eS.ot.ho w.o.rd for e.a.rs, d.esc.ribes Tw.ala's s.m.all, pe.r.ky e.a.rs.
**********************************************************************************************************
LOL!

I wo.nd.er if rel.igi.ous fa.na.tic.s do not find your j.okes bla.s.pha.m.eous


@Sowetan, F*&%^%
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Oct 25, 2012

kabelo110

Who is this now?? They lazy to make end means then they diverge to comedy for survival. This guy is not funny at all. Hey baba, maketa and stop playing..
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Oct 25, 2012

Lesoba-Le-Phodile

Tsa mo batla mosebetsi monna.
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Oct 25, 2012

Seja-Bana

yah mara lw wena Jo, tsebe tse ka! o kare maphaka trekere.
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Oct 25, 2012

Mosquer

Lesoba-Le-Phodile
kabelo110

His work is to make jokes.
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Oct 25, 2012

MophemeKoPitori

It's South African nature, for example Ernst Middendrop is called Mazinyo.com here in mzansi and Irvin Khoza is Toothfairy or toothpick etc etc

I love my country, South Africa
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Oct 25, 2012

Mrazane

I have heard him a couple of times he pokes fun at the brethren and the pastors, so I have not found him offensive, just gives us a chance to laugh at ourselves. Phela nathi bazalwane sithanda ukuba so serious and hypocritical at times and his jokes reveal all that.

Keep up the good work buti wami don't mind the haters, bazohlala bekhona.
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