Tumi Morake

Since discovering a knack for comedy in 2006, acclaimed actress and writer Tumi Morake has made a name for herself as one of a handful of successful female comedians in South Africa.  She has shared stages with comics such as David Kau, Marc Lottering, Stuart Taylor and Chris Forrest, at festivals such as  Blacks Only, Whack Jobs, Heavyweights Comedy Jam, King Size Comedy, Old Mutual Comedy Encounters and many more.  Amongst many recent career highlights, gigs that stand out include MCing at the 8th annual Woodstock Festival in 2007, being the only female among international and local acts at the 2009 Vodacom Funny Festival, performing at the inaugural Comics Choice Awards (2011) and being part of the 46664 It's No Joke line-up.

This acclaimed comedienne, whose comedy style has been described as in your face and slightly provocative, has also performed on stage, on television and in films; in English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana and Isizulu across South Africa and as far as Prague, Paris and London.  She has worked on a number of theatre productions in lead roles, such as Another Child and 1\4 Life Crisis, Maru, and Is this Africa, which was presented at the FNB Dance Umbrella and the African Dance Festival in Paris in 2006.  

Tumi's acting and writing career currently focuses on television, with credits including the roles of Pabi in Soul Buddies (SABC1), Persistence in SABC 2's Askies, and the lead Millicent in Izoso Connection, SABC1 (on which she is also credited as a writer).  She has had cameo appearances in the flagship shows Justice For All, Nomzamo and City Ses’la, and is also among the team of writers for the SABC sitcom Nomzamo, as well as the 2007 SABC comedy-drama For Sale. Film credits include the international award-winning films Jerusalema, Skin and Joburg.