POLOKWANE – Not only is he a stand-up comedian, Mongezi Tall Ass Mo Mahlangu is also an entertainer, hip-hop hype man, copy writer, and television producer.
He is a South African comedian and TV personality known for his appearances on numerous television series, including Mo Love on Vuzu, in which he stars with his wife, Mome.
He has taken part in several public comedy shows as well as corporate performances.
Some of the performances under his belt include LNN Comedy Show Live at Lyric, Metro FM Comedy Experience, Blacks Only, Heavy Weights Comedy Jam, DStv Comedy Circuit, Macufe Comedy Festival, and Mo News on LOL Show, Walala Wasala, KING Flat Comedy |show in Sun Meropa, and Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola.
The father of two said he started stand-up comedy 12 years ago with Skhumba in Thembisa. “We were recognised by Kedibone Mulaudzi and Eugene Khoza and since then I’ve never looked back and my comedy is about storytelling. My journey as comedian has not been easy and I started out getting paid R50 per show.”
He said the challenges he came across in the industry was to relate to people.
“Now people understand what comedy is but it wasn’t easy to start because people didn’t understand what stand-up comedy is. When I started doing comedy at Sun Meropa nine years ago with School Boy, Mashabela, Salesman, and Thapelo Mametja the industry was still small. It took a lot of patience and guts to be able to stand in front of people and make them understand stand-up comedy.”
“We are all about putting on good shows for the audience, it’s not about superstars in comedy.” Being a comedian for him means being a free man.
“I am who I am, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am not ashamed of my past, upbringing, and my current position and I am definitely not ashamed of where I am going. I am blessed enough to have a strong woman in my life in my wife Mome. She helps me keep stability in my life and she administrates our entire business. We try and find time slots that suit our personal life between gigs but it remains important for our careers to thrive. I am currently in my third season of You Got which plays on MTV base every Tuesday at 21:30 and also shooting SA’s Got Talent which plays on etv. There is a new comedy parade show on Mzansi Magic which I am involved with as well. The secret to my success is the ability to talk the truth about myself. Don’t lie, be honest to yourself, and never put yourself in a compromising situation whereby you have to lie and manipulate others to make yourself look good,” he said.
