Tumi Morake (born 22 December 1981) is a South African comedian, actress, TV personality, and writer.^[1][2][3][4]

In 2018, she became the first African woman to have her own set on Netflix. She is also known to be the first woman to host Comedy Central Presents in Africa.^[5][6]

Early years and education

Morake was born in the Free State. She relocated to Gauteng in the year 2000 and there, she studied Drama at Wits University.^[1][2]

Career

After completing her tertiary education at DUT, Morake started working at Arepp Theatre for Life, a touring educational theatre company.^[1] In July 2005, she joined the comedy industry. She worked at Parker Leisure Management and is known to perform regular stand-up gigs in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Some comedy festivals she has performed at include; Heavyweights Comedy Jam, Blacks Only, Have a Heart, Just Because Comedy Festival, The Tshwane Comedy Festival, The Lifestyle SA Festival and Old Mutual Comedy Encounters.^[2] She has hosted shows including; Our Perfect Wedding, Red Cake and WTFTumi (her talk show).^[3]

Filmography

Morake has starred in several films and TV shows, including:^[1][2][3]

• Skin
• Kota Life Crisis
• Soul Buddyz
• Izoso Connexion
• High Rollers
• Laugh Out Loud
• Rockville
• Soul Buddyz
• The Queen
• The Bantu Hour
• ekasi movies
• Seriously Single^[7]
• Tumi or Not Tumi (Netflix)
• Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (Disney+)

Works

• She authored a book titled And Then Mama Said.^[8][9]

Awards and recognitions

• She was named as one of The Free State Province's Icons^[6]
• 2012- Awarded Entertainer of the Year at the 2012 Speakers of Note Award^[6]
• 2013 - She is a recipient of the Mboko Women in the Arts Award for Excellence in Comedy 2013^[6]
• 2016 - She won the Best Comedian Category of the YOU Spectacular Awards^[10]
• She won awarded the Savanna Comic Choice Awards as the Comic of the Year ^[10][11]

Personal life

She is married to Mpho Osei Tutu, a fellow South African actor and is a mother of three children.^{[12][3][13][14][15]}