Thenjiwe
Judge Thenjiwe
Thenjiwe in 2019
Birth nameThenjiwe Maphumulo
Born29 September 1977
NationalityDual (South African & British)
Alma mater
Years active2010 - present
Spouse
John William Moseley
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2018)​
ChildrenJack Unathi Moseley
Parent(s)
  • Thenene Sipho Langa (father)
  • Nonhlanhla Viera Maphumulo (mother)
Notable works and roles
  • Judge Thenjiwe Khambule
  • Meet the Khambules
Websitethenjiwecomedy.co.za

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,[5] during which time she studied law,[2] 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[3] 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.[2] 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.[7]

Having been disrespected as a woman comedian,[7] Thenjiwe decided to use social media to promote her content.

"As a female performer, I was disrespected a lot – one promoter did not pay me after performing in two of his sold out shows (where I got standing ovations), so I decided to reach people through social media".

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.[10]

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.[11]

In March 2018, she performed at the Magners International Comedy Festival in Thailand, Vietnam and The Philippines.[12] In August, she headlined a show in Eswatini dubbed Laugh Goes On[13] and in December, she performed at the 4th Annual Durban Comedy Festival in South Africa.[14][15]

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.[16] In June, she performed at the Eswatini Must Laugh comedy show in Eswatini.[17] In August, she performed at the Kings and Queens of Comedy: Women's Day Edition.[18]

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).[19] In August 2023, She performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in a show named The Mandela Effect.[20]

Comedy Specials

  • 2015 - Laughter is the Best Medicine[21]
  • 2016 - Born again African[22]
  • 2017 - Hurricane Thenjiwe[5]
  • 2018 - From KwaMashu to the World
  • 2018 - Wrong Role Model[23]
  • 2019 - Thenjiwe Live in London

Acting

Thenjiwe made her debut in acting as Doris in The Road in 2015.[9][24]

In 2017, Thenjiwe acted in a TV drama series, The Harvest, as Zodwa.[9] In the same year, she acted in two Nollywood movies; 10 Days in Sun City in June[25] and The Accidental Spy in December.[26]

In 2018, she acted as Thenjiwe “Mthandazi” Mvelase, an out-of-work prophetess in Imbewu.[9]

In 2019, she acted in a South African thriller movie, Uncovered.[27][28]

Hostess

Thenjiwe has been an Mc at the African Union in Belgium and the Department of Trade and Industry in Pretoria.[6][29] In 2016, she was a commentator in the countdown show 10 over 10 on Vuzu.[30]

Personal life

Thenjiwe married[3] 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.[5] Thenjiwe is a Goodwill ambassador for Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Toronto and Great Impact, Durban. Thenjiwe is a Christian.

Filmography

Films

Year Film Character Notes Citation
2014 Angel Veronica [31]
2014 Liputsa Lami Thenjiwe [32]
2014 Family Puzzle Thenjiwe [32]
2015 Brazzaville à Johannesburg Thenjiwe [32]
2017 Accidental Spy Thenjiwe [33]
2017 10 Days in Sun City Thenjiwe [25]
2019 Uncovered Thishiwe [27][28]

Television

Year Show Character Network Notes Citation
2015-2016 The Bantu Hour Guest Comedian SABC 2 Season 1 [10]
2016 The Road Doris Mzansi Magic Season 1 [24]
2016 10 Over 10 Commentator - Herself Vuzu, Mzansi Magic Season 4 [30]
2017 Harvest Zodwa E.tv Her first appearance was in Season 1, Episode 2 [34]
2017 #Karektas Celebrity Guest SABC2 Season 1 Episode 4 [35]
2018 Meet the Khambules Mrs. Khambule Moja Love Season 1 [36]
2018-2019 Imbewu: The Seed Mthandazi E.tv Seasons 1 & 2 [37][38]
2018-2019 Judge Thenjiwe Khambule Judge Khambule Moja Love Seasons 1, 2 & 3 [39][40][41]

Awards

Year Award Category Result
2013Funny Women AwardsFinalist[8]
2014 Comics Choice Audience Choice award Nominated
2017 Great Impact Business Awards Comedian of the Year Won
2018Simon Sabela AwardsBest Newcomer Actress TVNominated[42]
2018 Savanna Comics' Choice Awards The Comics’ Pen Award Nominated[43]
2018 African Emerging Film Makers Best Actress Won
2018 African Emerging Film Makers Best Original Story Writer Won
2018 Simon Sabela Awards Best Producer Won
2018 Simon Sabela Awards Best Writer Won

References

  1. ↑ Kekana, Chrizelda (6 August 2018). "Thenjiwe Moseley: Disney lies to us, we don't need a prince to save us..." Times LIVE. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Thenjiwe Moseley - Parkers Comedy and Jive". parkerscomedy.com. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hire Thenjiwe Moseley. For Corporates, Exclusive Functions and Special Events". www.corporate-comedians.co.za. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  4. ↑ Kekana, Chrizelda (2 August 2018). "Thenjiwe Moseley cementing her place in Imbewu". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Expect a blast with 'Hurricane Thenjiwe'". 29 August 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2019 – via PressReader.
  6. 1 2 "comedy cv - the UK's largest collection of comedians biogs and photos". www.comedycv.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Ndlangisa, Amanda (5 August 2016). "Thenjiwe Moseley talks about women in comedy". W24. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Funny Women Awards 2013 Finalist - Tevashnee". Funny Women. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Kekana, Chrizelda (9 August 2018). "Thenjiwe Moseley is making international money moves in comedy". Times LIVE. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  10. 1 2 "The Bantu Hour | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  11. ↑ Journalist, The (19 January 2016). "Bitches Be Back 2016!". Online Youth Magazine | Zkhiphani.com. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Magners Comedy - THENJIWE MOSELEY". bangkok.oneplace.events. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  13. ↑ Msibi, Nondumiso (13 August 2018). "EMBRACE COUNTRY'S NAME CHANGE - SA'S THENJIWE". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  14. ↑ Walford, Lauren (11 December 2018). "Durban's biggest annual comedy festival returns". Berea Mail. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  15. ↑ Dennis, Michelle (5 December 2018). "Durban's BIGGEST annual Comedy Festival is back!". Highway Mail. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  16. ↑ Bambalele, Patience (24 May 2019). "Thenjiwe returns to make SA fans laugh". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Dube, Dudu (23 June 2019). "Times Of Swaziland". Times of Swaziland. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  18. ↑ Thangevelo, Debashine (4 August 2019). "My Joburg: Thenjiwe Moseley ready to rock 'Kings & Queens of Comedy' | IOL Entertainment". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  19. ↑ "Thenjiwe". Mirth Control. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Thenjiwe - The Mandela Effect". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  21. ↑ Govindasamy, Valencia (13 October 2015). "Comedy gets a shot in the arm as Thenjiwe's solo show, 'Laughter is the Best Medicine', hits the stage". Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2023 – via PressReader.
  22. ↑ "Thenjiwe: Born again African". allevents.in. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  23. ↑ "Thenjiwe Wrong Role Model". Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  24. 1 2 "The Road | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  25. 1 2 "Pictures from the set of Ay Makun's 10 Days in Sun City | Nolly Silver Screen". Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  26. ↑ Kareem, Tolu (20 October 2017). "#NTA: Ramsey Nouah & Ayo Makun Take On Action-Comedy In 'The Accidental Spy'! | Xplorenollywood". Xplore Nollywood. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  27. 1 2 "GRIPPING LOCAL THRILLER UNCOVERED COMES TO STER-KINEKOR THIS AUGUST". Ster-Kinekor. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  28. 1 2 Mabaso, Nanu (12 October 2018). "Film Culture in KZN gets a Boost". Afropolitan Explosiv. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  29. ↑ "'Mother' pleads for Beyonc to return to Durban home". eNCA. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  30. 1 2 "10 Over 10 | Season 4 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  31. ↑ Angel, retrieved 26 November 2019
  32. 1 2 3 "Thenjiwe Moseley Top Secret Comedy Club Covent Garden London". Top Secret Comedy Club. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  33. ↑ The Accidental Spy (2017) - IMDb, retrieved 26 November 2019
  34. ↑ "Harvest | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  35. ↑ "#Karektas | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  36. ↑ "Meet the Khambules | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  37. ↑ "Imbewu: The Seed | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "Imbewu: The Seed | Season 2 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  39. ↑ "Judge Thenjiwe Khambule | Season 1 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "Judge Thenjiwe Khambule | Season 2 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  41. ↑ "Judge Thenjiwe Khambule | Season 3 | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  42. ↑ Alyssia, Birjalal (21 June 2018). "Simon Sabela Film and Television Awards 2018 nominees announced | IOL Entertainment". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  43. ↑ "2018 Savanna Comics' Choice Awards nominees announced". www.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
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