Skhumba Hlophe (born 31 August) is a South African comedian, radio presenter, and actor. The man of many talents is popular on the screen for playing the role of Bheki Zulu in Thandeka’s Diary.
Still, the list of popular funny comedy heavyweights in the country is incomplete without him. With his style of comedy, he could make the audience and listeners laugh for a long time.
Profile
Source: TNC Team.
| Name | Skhumba Hlophe |
| Other names | Big Banger |
| Born | August 31 |
| Age | 40s |
| Nationality | South African |
| Gender | Male |
| Wife | Dibakiso Moloi |
| Children | Nikiwe, Ali-Bongwe, Sinakhokonke |
| Profession | Comedian, radio presenter, actor |
| Net worth | $400000-$550000. |
Background
Source: TNC Team.
The popular face on television today hails from a humble background. Skhumba also addressed as Big Banger was raised in Tembisa, Johannesburg, South Africa. He stayed with Leria Hlophe his grandmother in her house which had a 4-bedroom.
Though anyone could conclude that to do comedy is his calling. The Johannesburg comedian had always wanted to practice law.
His dreams of putting on a black robe and white wig came to an end earlier than he expected. This followed after he wasn’t “exactly the smartest kid in the block, according to him.
To study in the university requires much especially money and his mother who was at a dry cleaner could not pay for his university education.
This did not make him give up his dreams to attend a higher institution, Skhumba had to work at SAPC as a clerk. He worked for thirteen years to raise enough to see him through his academic pursuit in the university. In 2016, he resigned.
Before matriculating, Skhumba failed four times and finally passed at the time he was twenty-two.
Road to Fame
In 2010, he received an invitation to hold a performance at Monwabisi Grootboom’s 99% Xhosa Comedy show, Port Elizabeth. Upon making people laugh, he received a standing ovation. This marked the beginning of a successful comedy career.
Skhumba appeared at the Soweto Comedy Festival as one of the Young Gunz of Nubreed Comedy in 2012.
Earlier, in the previous year, 2011, in the first edition Stand Up Zulu festival he appeared at the event as a featured comedian. The festival was held at Playhouse in Durban, South Africa.
More opportunities started to flooding, he landed a job as a contributor in Mzansi Insider on SABC1. The same year, he landed a role as an actor. He was cast in one of the episodes of Zaziwa.
In 2017, she landed another role in another show on SABC1 as a host on Throwback Thursday. The show was in line with what he loves to do, yea! comedy. The show was a comedic talk show that primarily reviews the top stories on social media.
Alongside Boity Thulo, he was a co-host on a review show Change Down. He was on the show on Mzansi Magic for about three months (May – July) in 2017.
Birthday Celebration
Source: TNC Team.
He celebrates his birthday on August 31st. To mark and celebrate his date of birth, he hosts a show Skhumba’s Birthday Comedy Extravaganza. He holds the show every year on the last Friday of August. The Nation has not yet confirmed the year he was born.
Show
On Fridays, he hosts the show Good Friday alongside Ndumiso Ngcobo on Kaya FM. The two is the perfect combo to make you laugh as they talk about politics in the country and life in general. The show airs on the station for three hours (6 am – 9 am).
In an interview session with Move! Magazine, he reflected on his road to fame. He shared with the publication that at the start of his stand-up comedy profession in 2009, he received peanuts as payment. He reveals that each gig earned him exactly R100.
He refused to give up and in 2015 Skhumba managed to beat completion and make a name for himself in the industry. He recorded huge success skyrocketing his earnings from R100 to R8,000 for each gig.
Wife
Source: TNC Team.
Skhumba Hlophe’s wife name is Dibakiso Moloi and their children name is Nikiwe, Ali-Bongwe, and Sinakhokonke. According to him, they are the reason he continues to keeps up with the hard work.
“I’m grateful for my children and my family every day. I have dark days, like everyone else. But I always reflect at how far I’ve come and what I’ve overcome, and I know tomorrow is another day,”.
Most times he includes his relationship with his wife in his comedy stories. He shares about their private affairs sometimes with the audience to make them laugh.
“If the audience doesn’t laugh, then she won’t eat. It’s that simple,”
Career
Skhumba is a comedian, radio presenter, and actor. He walked into the spotlight in the movie industry after he was cast as Bheki Zulu (starring role) in Thandeka’s Diary. The character is the overbearing mechanic father of Thandeka in the SABC1 sitcom.
His role as Dlamini further gained his fame after his impressive performance in the series Taxi rides, a feature film, and its spin-off. He was among the Young Gunz of Nubreed Comedy who made an appearance at the 2010 Soweto Comedy Festival.
In 2016, he landed a guest role in season three of Ses’Top La, an SABC1 sitcom. On 30 June in the same year, he appeared playing a guest role on an episode of Zaziwa.
Net worth
The much-celebrated South African actor Skhumba Hlophe has an estimated net worth of $400000-$550000.
