Thenjiwe Explained

Thenjiwe
Birth Name:Thenjiwe Maphumulo
Nationality:Dual (South African & British)
Years Active:2010 - present
Children:Jack Unathi Moseley

Thenjiwe Moseley born Thenjiwe Maphumulo on 29 September 1977 is a South African comedian, actress, master of ceremonies and entrepreneur originating from KwaMashu, Durban. Professionally, she is simply known as Thenjiwe. She created and acted in Judge Thenjiwe Khambule and Meet the Khambules which aired on Moja Love. She is a goodwill ambassador for Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Toronto and Great Impact, Durban. She is also a YouTube content creator and influencer, having been made famous by the sketches she posts on social media.

Early life and education

Thenjiwe was born on 29 September 1977 in the apartheid era[1] to teenage parents, Thenene Sipho Langa and Nonhlanhla Viera Maphumulo. She was raised in Kwamashu, G Section, KwaZulu-Natal by her grandparents Joshua Bhekokwakhe Maphumulo, a political activist, and Agnes Ntombizodwa Maphumulo, a maid and seamstress.

Because of the political unrest in the country and her grandfather's involvement in the struggle, Thenjiwe frequently changed from one school to another. She completed her secondary education at Northmead Secondary School and later joined Natal Technical College (Natal Teknikon) which is now Durban University of Technology where she graduated in Performing Arts in 1998.[2] After graduation, she waited for casting opportunities in vain[3] because she could not afford an agent or go to live in Johannesburg[4] and so, in 2001, she left for the US, where she lived for two years, working as an au pair,[5] while studying Business Management at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania.[6] She later relocated to the United Kingdom, living there for 12 years, during which time she studied law, graduating first from University of London with a Diploma in Law in 2006 and then later a Bachelor of Laws from the London Metropolitan University in 2009.

Career

Lawyer

After graduating from Law School, Thenjiwe worked as an immigration lawyer from 2010 to 2015.

Comedian

It was after she and her colleagues had a good day in court in 2013, that they went to celebrate in a pub which happened to host a comedy night. She was dared to perform and she did five minutes on stage[7] and was noticed by a talent scout. She later resigned from her job in November 2015 to concentrate on her comedy career. She got gigs in a few clubs. Her first performance was at Wokingham Theatre. In 2013, she competed in the Funny Woman Awards in the United Kingdom, and the exposure made comedian Celeste Ntuli notice and invited her to be the opening act for her one-woman show, Myself.[8] This opened doors for more opportunities to perform in South Africa. But the five-minute slots she was being offered could not financially justify frequently flying from the United Kingdom.

Having been disrespected as a woman comedian, Thenjiwe decided to use social media to promote her content.

In February 2015, she joined YouTube, subsequently posting comedy video sketches which made her famous.[9]

Between 2015 and 2016, she appeared as a guest comedian in the Season 1 of Bantu Hour on SABC 2.

In 2016, together with Celeste Ntuli, Tumi Morake, Noko Moswete, Nina Hastie and Tracey-Lee Oliver, she performed in an all-women cast comedy show Bitches Be Back.[10]

In March 2018, she performed at the Magners International Comedy Festival in Thailand, Vietnam and The Philippines.[11] In August, she headlined a show in Eswatini dubbed Laugh Goes On[12] and in December, she performed at the 4th Annual Durban Comedy Festival in South Africa.[13] [14]

In May 2019, Thenjiwe, Mark Banks, Alfred Adriaan and Eugene Khozawas were part of the South African All Star Tour in Sydney and Perth, Australia. Later in the same month she headlined at the Combo Comedy Show Fest at the Carnival City.[15] In June, she performed at the Eswatini Must Laugh comedy show in Eswatini.[16] In August, she performed at the Kings and Queens of Comedy: Women's Day Edition.[17]

In April 2023, she won the King Gong Comedy at The Comedy Store (London) and in May, she won The Black Out at Up the Creek (comedy club).[18] In August 2023, She performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in a show named The Mandela Effect.[19]

Comedy Specials

Acting

Thenjiwe made her debut in acting as Doris in The Road in 2015.

In 2017, Thenjiwe acted in a TV drama series, The Harvest, as Zodwa. In the same year, she acted in two Nollywood movies; 10 Days in Sun City in June[23] and The Accidental Spy in December.[24]

In 2018, she acted as Thenjiwe “Mthandazi” Mvelase, an out-of-work prophetess in Imbewu.

In 2019, she acted in a South African thriller movie, Uncovered.[25]

Hostess

Thenjiwe has been an Mc at the African Union in Belgium and the Department of Trade and Industry in Pretoria.[26] In 2016, she was a commentator in the countdown show 10 over 10 on Vuzu.

Personal life

Thenjiwe married John William Moseley on 5 April 2004. Together, they have a son, Jack Unathi Moseley, born 22 May 2005 in Woking England. She lives with her family in Woking, Surrey but frequently travels for shows to South Africa and elsewhere. Thenjiwe is a Goodwill ambassador for Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Toronto and Great Impact, Durban. Thenjiwe is a Christian.

Filmography

Films

YearFilmCharacterNotesCitation
2014AngelVeronica
2014Liputsa LamiThenjiwe[27]
2014Family PuzzleThenjiwe
2015Brazzaville à JohannesburgThenjiwe
2017Accidental SpyThenjiwe
201710 Days in Sun CityThenjiwe
2019UncoveredThishiwe[28]

Television

YearShowCharacterNetworkNotesCitation
2015-2016The Bantu HourGuest ComedianSABC 2Season 1[29]
2016The RoadDorisMzansi MagicSeason 1[30]
201610 Over 10Commentator - HerselfVuzu, Mzansi MagicSeason 4[31]
2017HarvestZodwaE.tvHer first appearance was in Season 1, Episode 2[32]
2017
  1. Karektas
Celebrity GuestSABC2Season 1 Episode 4[33]
2018Meet the KhambulesMrs. KhambuleMoja LoveSeason 1[34]
2018-2019Imbewu: The SeedMthandaziE.tvSeasons 1 & 2[35] [36]
2018-2019Judge Thenjiwe KhambuleJudge KhambuleMoja LoveSeasons 1, 2 & 3[37] [38] [39]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResult
2013 Funny Women Awards Finalist
2014Comics Choice Audience Choice award
2017Great Impact Business AwardsComedian of the Year
2018 Simon Sabela Awards Best Newcomer Actress TV [40]
2018Savanna Comics' Choice AwardsThe Comics’ Pen Award[41]
2018African Emerging Film MakersBest Actress
2018African Emerging Film MakersBest Original Story Writer
2018Simon Sabela AwardsBest Producer
2018Simon Sabela AwardsBest Writer

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley: Disney lies to us, we don't need a prince to save us.... Kekana. Chrizelda. 6 August 2018. Times LIVE. en-ZA. 2019-11-27.
  2. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley - Parkers Comedy and Jive. parkerscomedy.com. 2019-11-27.
  3. Web site: Hire Thenjiwe Moseley. For Corporates, Exclusive Functions and Special Events.. www.corporate-comedians.co.za. 2019-12-11.
  4. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley cementing her place in Imbewu. Kekana. Chrizelda. 2 August 2018. SowetanLIVE. en-ZA. 2019-12-11.
  5. Web site: Expect a blast with 'Hurricane Thenjiwe'. 29 August 2017. PressReader. 2019-12-10.
  6. Web site: comedy cv - the UK's largest collection of comedians biogs and photos. www.comedycv.co.uk. 2019-12-15.
  7. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley talks about women in comedy. Ndlangisa. Amanda. 5 August 2016. W24. 2019-12-14.
  8. Web site: Funny Women Awards 2013 Finalist - Tevashnee. 2013-09-16. Funny Women. en-GB. 2019-12-11.
  9. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley is making international money moves in comedy. Kekana. Chrizelda. 9 August 2018. Times LIVE. en-ZA. 2019-11-27.
  10. Web site: Bitches Be Back 2016!. Journalist. The. 2016-01-19. Online Youth Magazine Zkhiphani.com. en-US. 2019-12-18.
  11. Web site: Magners Comedy - THENJIWE MOSELEY. bangkok.oneplace.events. en. 2019-12-15.
  12. Web site: EMBRACE COUNTRY'S NAME CHANGE - SA'S THENJIWE. Msibi. Nondumiso. 13 August 2018. Times of Swaziland. 15 December 2019.
  13. Web site: Durban's biggest annual comedy festival returns. Walford. Lauren. 2018-12-11. Berea Mail. 2019-12-15.
  14. Web site: Durban's BIGGEST annual Comedy Festival is back!. Dennis. Michelle. 2018-12-05. Highway Mail. 2019-12-15.
  15. Web site: Thenjiwe returns to make SA fans laugh. Bambalele. Patience. 24 May 2019. SowetanLIVE. en-ZA. 2019-12-11.
  16. Web site: Times Of Swaziland. Dube. Dudu. 23 June 2019. Times of Swaziland. 2019-12-15.
  17. Web site: My Joburg: Thenjiwe Moseley ready to rock 'Kings & Queens of Comedy' IOL Entertainment. Thangevelo. Debashine. 4 August 2019. www.iol.co.za. en. 2019-11-27.
  18. Web site: Thenjiwe. 16 August 2023 . Mirth Control.
  19. Web site: Thenjiwe - The Mandela Effect . 16 August 2023 . British Comedy Guide.
  20. Web site: Comedy gets a shot in the arm as Thenjiwe's solo show, 'Laughter is the Best Medicine', hits the stage . Govindasamy . Valencia . 13 October 2015 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191210172912/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/daily-news-south-africa/20151013/282260959298081 . en . December 10, 2019 . 2023-05-13.
  21. Web site: Thenjiwe: Born again African. allevents.in. en. 2019-12-10.
  22. Web site: Thenjiwe Wrong Role Model . 2023-08-16.
  23. Web site: Pictures from the set of Ay Makun's 10 Days in Sun City Nolly Silver Screen. en-US. 2019-12-15.
  24. Web site:
    1. NTA: Ramsey Nouah & Ayo Makun Take On Action-Comedy In 'The Accidental Spy'! Xplorenollywood
    . Kareem. Tolu. 20 October 2017. Xplore Nollywood. en-US. 2019-12-15.
  25. Web site: Film Culture in KZN gets a Boost. Mabaso. Nanu. 2018-10-12. Afropolitan Explosiv. en-US. 2019-12-18.
  26. Web site: 'Mother' pleads for Beyonc to return to Durban home. 14 April 2016. eNCA. en. 2019-12-17.
  27. Web site: Thenjiwe Moseley Top Secret Comedy Club Covent Garden London. Top Secret Comedy Club. en. 2019-11-27.
  28. Web site: GRIPPING LOCAL THRILLER UNCOVERED COMES TO STER-KINEKOR THIS AUGUST. 12 August 2019. Ster-Kinekor. 2019-12-18.
  29. Web site: The Bantu Hour Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  30. Web site: The Road Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  31. Web site: 10 Over 10 Season 4 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  32. Web site: Harvest Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  33. Web site:
    1. Karektas Season 1 TVSA
    . www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-12-18.
  34. Web site: Meet the Khambules Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  35. Web site: Imbewu: The Seed Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  36. Web site: Imbewu: The Seed Season 2 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  37. Web site: Judge Thenjiwe Khambule Season 1 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  38. Web site: Judge Thenjiwe Khambule Season 2 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  39. Web site: Judge Thenjiwe Khambule Season 3 TVSA. www.tvsa.co.za. 2019-11-27.
  40. Web site: Simon Sabela Film and Television Awards 2018 nominees announced IOL Entertainment. Alyssia. Birjalal. 21 June 2018. www.iol.co.za. en. 2019-12-18.
  41. Web site: 2018 Savanna Comics' Choice Awards nominees announced. www.bizcommunity.com. en. 2019-12-15.