FAITHFULLY FUNNY: Phakamisa Township- born comedian TD Jokes is taking the South African Christian comedy scene by storm and next month will be going on his national tour, “Laugh and be healed”. Picture: SUPPLIED
KING William’s Town-born writer and comedian Thembinkosi Dike is making a name for himself on the national Christian comedy scene.
Dike was born in Phakamisa Township and is now based in Johannesburg. He started comedy after his childhood friend Walter Mdangayi convinced him he had what it took to entertain people.
“My family loved comedy. We would watch stand up comedies and sitcoms but I never saw myself doing stand up comedy,” Dike said.
Dike had his first performance last February at Take Take the Movement, one of East London’s fastest growing Christian hip-hop events. Dike goes by the name of TD Jokes – a play on the name of renowned American pastor and best-selling author TD Jakes.
“My friend Walter gave me that name and at first when he said I am TD Jokes I was offended.
“But now I love it, people attend shows hoping to see a TD Jakes look-alike,” he said.
At his first event Dike was given 20 minutes to make the crowd – which was mainly Christian – laugh.
“I prayed for weeks asking God to give me material and He inspired me to write down a couple of things I’ve seen in my life,” he said.
Dike said his jokes were based on his life experience and his outlook of church dynamics.
“Humour has always been at church. Before the pastor delivers the word he will make a joke and even the MC will also crack a few jokes during the service,” he said.
After his first performance Dike went back to Johannesburg and was later approached by a Christian magazine to be part of their Lord, make me laugh comedy shows.
“I got a chance to be part of the best Christian comedians in the country and I’ve been well received by people,” he said.
Dike said in the Eastern Cape it was mainly the younger generation that has embraced his talent.
“Older people think Christian comedy makes fun of God but we are not. Comedy has always been present at church but now the only difference is that there are people who package and present it,” he said.
During 2012 Dike also started his own national comedy tour, Laugh and be healed.
“The tour is starting again next month and Welkom will be my first stop,” he said.
Asked by the Dispatch to share a joke yesterday Dike said there was nothing new in using Tablet (computers) as bibles instead of hard copy ones.
“In Habakkuk 2 verse 2 the Lord says, write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. Tablets existed even in the time of Moses,” joked Dike. For performance dates people can like Dike’s Facebook page, TDJokes. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
