They all entered the house with bags full of comic tricks.
Well, Robby Collins wheeled in a green municipal dustbin.
However they came in, they all had the same goal - to be the last one laughing.
Nomzamo Mbatha, Lasizwe Dambuza, Tumi Morake, Robby Collins, Moonchild Sanelly, Thando Thabethe, Celeste Ntuli, Jason Goliath, Tumi Morake, Glen Biderman-Pam and Mojak Lehoko all wanted to win a R1 million for their charity organisation of their choice.
Hosted by internationally revered comedian, Trevor Noah, the show adapted in more than 20 countries had surprise visits from the likes of Oskido and Trevor Gumbi throughout its six episodes.
Pushed over the verge of bursting out a laugh, Moonchild was the first to give in to the temptation.
The closer the six hours was from finally lapsing, the harder it was to make anyone laugh or resist laughing themselves.
Even after Trevor threw a twist in the spanner, disqualifying Jason and Lasizwe from the top four for having made the least people laugh, Tumi and Glen thugged it out together till the end.
For Tumi, this is yet another addition to the accolades she's accumulated throughout her two decades in the comedy industry.
Besides being the first black woman to open up that industry, she has also been a trailblazer.
In 2018, she became the first African woman to have her own comedy set on the Netflix streaming platform. She’s also the first woman to host a Comedy Central show in Africa.
Marriage, kids and time has not taken away any of her spark.
If anything, she has managed to not only juggle but rope in her family life into her career seamlessly.
Recently, Tumi Morake moved to the United States of America to write her name on international billboards.
After finally taking off her career in the states, she makes moves between Johannesburg and Atlanta, Georgia.
With less than two weeks left until the new show she’s featured in premieres; the comedian catches up with Drum.
"Finally, premiering The Honeymoon movie. It felt like I was breaking bread with the industry again after a long time. Team Sunday Sexy Love's win at the SAFTA's. That's been a heart project for me. Watching my kids walk away with multiple academic awards after a difficult couple of years with all the changes in our lives,” she lists her highlights from 2023.
Of all the things the Free State-born comedian misses about South Africa whenever she’s away, she says that music is number one on the list.
“The way amapiano has been embraced and randomly hearing the music when I go out. The South African community is close knit and warm in New York and Atlanta and that kind of "family" vibes South Africa has just makes me miss home all the time. No matter where you go, they hear one of them is there, they flock to support you. It is beautiful and we don't talk about this enough.”
Ever since she ventured into the international comedy space, Tumi has had multiple out-of-body experiences where she has felt like pinching herself.
But two of the experiences that have been for the books is performing in Amsterdam and meeting the king of Netherlands.
“I have to say performing in places like Amsterdam where there is a language barrier and seeing people literally double over with laughter is a feeling I can never articulate; I always need a moment to compose myself. Meeting the King of Netherlands was wild.”
Unlike performing in her home country though, the international stages are always a wonderful surprise – just the challenge she ordered.
“No expectations from the audience. I find it as exciting as when I started comedy in South Africa. You are a wonderful surprise. I have also enjoyed meeting comedians I have watched on TV over all these years and getting so caught up in conversations you forget to ask for photos for the gram (Instagram).”
Reflecting back on how far she has come, almost 20 years in, the mother of three says that her biggest regret is not taking risks as often earlier on in her career.
“My biggest regret is not taking risks. The higher I climbed the more careful I became. My biggest lesson has been that it's not too late to go back to being the Tumi Morake birthed by the South African comedy scene, before cancel culture, before cool kids, before likes and trends.”
To her 21-year-old self who was scared to take the risks she’s currently taking, she says, “That comedian who told you not to be too clever just didn't want you reminding him how dumb he is. Be as clever and authentic as you want, it's part of your DNA.”
Now that she is featured on yet another international project, Amazon Prime Video’s Last One Laughing hosted by Trevor Noah, she has excitement butterflies in her tummy like she’s starting out.
“A lot of fun. Like a really long playdate with some really nice and funny people. And exhausting. Not laughing actually physically hurts. People who never laugh, how do you do it?,” she describes the show.
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“South Africa is still a toddler in comedy, and a show like this should spark more ideas of where to take it. It is great to also highlight our own star power in the world.”
The most exciting thing about the show though is how it took her back to her theatre roots; back to Wits University where she studied Drama in the early 2000s.
“Going back to my theatre roots was a great plus and a challenge. When you have to make people laugh who are intentionally not laughing and not laugh yourself – that takes focus. It took me back to prep, rehearsal, reading the room. I don't know about growth, but it was a great reminder about the relationship between comedy and playing.”
Considering everything that she has done over the years, the comic says nothing beats performing in front of a live audience.
“A live audience any day! You receive your love immediately, you get your affirmation, your ego stroke. It is the difference between a long-distance relationship and your person being right here to give you what you need.”
