My Festival: Thenjiwe
There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please explain why we should come and see yours.
If you can only see one show in Edinburgh this month, it has to be my show. You are guaranteed to laugh out loud at how I navigate life, you will learn a thing or two from my African style of parenting and my story will expose you to the Africa they don't show on television. My show The Mandela Effect is a personal journey of my life. I share how I grew in apartheid South Africa in the most violent township and how as a country we became the rainbow nation and we were able to put the past behind us, forgive and move on.
What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?
In Africa we have a saying that goes 'as long as the tale of the hunt is told by the hunter it will never favour the lion', and for so long the African story has been told by people who did not live it and I have come to Edinburgh to tell you my side of the story.
Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show?
The biggest inspiration of my show is the late Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He was able to lead the transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy. I want my comedy to unite people.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
Most people will be surprised that I am an ordained minister and I can officiate weddings. I studied online in 2020 because my cousin wanted to get married and because of what was going on in the world she didn't want someone from outside our family bubble so I volunteered to do the course so I could officiate their wedding. They broke up two days before the wedding but I still have my qualification and I hope to use it one day.
What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?
The best thing happened at the Montreal comedy festival in Canada where I met Kevin Hart, he was really lovely and gave me some valuable advice that I still use today. I have not had any bad experiences at a festival.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
The first thing I do in the morning is read a meditation quote from a book called 'what my ancestors said' by Ehime Ora. It prompts me to remember how fortunate I am and that I have a duty to make this world a better place for the next generation.
Thanks for the interview! We’d like to buy you a drink. Where are we going and what are we drinking?
Champagne please. At Cafe Royal on 9 West Register Street. I’ve seen a picture of Whoopi Goldberg hanging out there so it’s on my to do list.
Thenjiwe: The Mandela Effect, Just The Tonic – Cask Room, 2.25pm, until 28 August.