“My parents are shocked by my success because I was a teasing kid,” says The Funny Chef

Had it not been for the change in Facebook’s simple environment, Pretoria chef, comedian and actor Lebogang Tlocana, known as the Funny Chef, would not have been the usual face on screen now hosting the now-popular TV show, Our Ideal Wedding. . He made thousands of people laugh with his comedy videos, where he portrayed different characters, while adding a unique “spy” dialect, which led to its viral spread, but the 31-year-old girl faced serious challenges as a child. Growing up in Teresa Park, Pretoria, she was the only black girl in an African school that made life difficult …

Had it not been for the change in Facebook’s simple environment, Pretoria chef, comedian and actor Lebogang Tlocana, known as the Funny Chef, would not have been the usual face on screen now hosting the now-popular TV show, Our Ideal Wedding. .

He made thousands of people laugh with his comedy videos, where he portrayed different characters, while adding a unique “spy” dialect, which led to its viral spread, but the 31-year-old girl faced serious challenges as a child.

Growing up in Teresa Park, Pretoria, she was the only black girl in an African school that made life difficult for her because she felt abandoned and suffered from racism.

But she was frustrated with her family when she failed grade 9 and 10.

“My education was quite difficult, because I went to high school twice, which I really do not like to talk about, but if it motivates someone, let me know. Then I left high school and went to college and got a qualification equal to a matrix, for which I am grateful. I was doing marketing management. ”

How his love for cooking began

She eventually lost interest in it and after sitting at home for a year, the Food Network soon became her favorite channel. That sparked a love of cooking, he said.

“I was in love with cooking and it fascinated me a lot and I started experimenting with food and my father decided again and took me to culinary school. That was literally his last money. After that he had nothing and could not find a job. “His last money went to me, which I think he was proud of because I passed.”

After working in a hotel, restaurant and gambling lodge, The Funny Chef was created. While he was confident that his videos would spread, what was confusing was that they were not.

https://fb.watch/bORHDbnGrn/

“The Funny Chef was not created at that time. I just took these videos and have been doing them for a long time. But they did not really explode. They only started to explode when I realized that my account was personal and no one could see my belongings. “I changed the settings in a month and it’s pretty ridiculous, I was booming,” Tlocana said.

But he was convinced that there was still more and warned his parents that despite the failure, he was going to do something unexpected and quit his job.

He quickly gained success, starring in comedy films with comedian David Caus, starring in the culinary show SABC 1 and starring in the multi-South African film and television awards (SAFTA)-winning telenovela The River.

Thinking about his first professional acting concert, he criticized himself for spending a bit of comedy on his character and spending time on the set during his two-season appearances.

I regret this and wish I could come back to do it again and do it better. You are surrounded by people like Cindy Dlatu and Presley like us and it is no joke. I’m over-thinking, but a little late. He brought me out. “I want to do it again,” he said.

When he now returns to the screens to present the high-profile “Our Perfect Wedding,” Tlocana said he was not expecting to win an audition. His attempt to take the lead seriously was, in fact, undesirable. Instead, he was asked to submit his humor and jokes.

“I was nervous about my past on the river and I was trying to be a presenter. I was told I did not want it and how to add a funny item. I did this and left because I knew I got it, even though there were big names who were also auditioning. And I got it. “I was called a month later to be employed.”

However, Tlokana was thinking about two things – the shame of the body and the attempt to speak isizulu on the show, because he was already criticizing himself on a daily basis.

“I will bring humor to the show, but also Zulu. Zulu and I are not friends. I look forward to it and this weekend it’s a Zulu episode. Hopefully I will not be criticized for not knowing or not being able to speak freely. I was also afraid of body embarrassment as they would take you to Twitter. “As soon as it starts, I am going to deactivate my account because I am already criticizing myself every day and it will break me.”

But he was proud to be from Pretoria and talked about street lingo and wants to convey to the audience the experience of the city through the show.

“But I’m looking forward to seeing people in Pretoria and how we’re talking. It may sound aggressive and not soft, but so be it. Go to Pretoria and experience it for yourself. “

His goal was to eventually have his own production company and make movies and TV series. During the year he would publish a cookbook.

As for his parents, they are still shocked by his unexpected success.

“I think it ‘s still a shock to them before I’m grown up. I was very teased. My parents still can not believe it. They would be grateful for what I provided for them and would pray for me. They are happy for me. “

rorisangk@citizen.co.za