Khanyisa Jam Jam opens up in Laugh Africa Comedy Club special

This month, Showmax takes viewers behind the scenes of one of the continent’s biggest comedy celebrations with the Laugh Africa Comedy Club special: four episodes of raw laughs, real moments, and performances that define Africa’s rising comedic voices. 

Among the standouts is Khanyisa Jam Jam, recently crowned 2025 Comics’ Choice Breakthrough Act of the Year. In our interview with him, Khanyisa opens up about his early struggles, the night he bombed on stage in front of his mentor, and why cancel culture, KFC, and Cedric the Entertainer are all part of his story. 

What’s the moment you realised you were funny and when did you know you could turn it into a career? 

Probably in 2023, when I got nominated for the Comics’ Choice Newcomer Award. That’s when I thought, ‘Oh, I think I can actually be a professional stand-up comedian.’ It felt like a real moment of validation. 

What was your worst bomb on stage and how did you recover? 

My worst bomb was opening for my mentor, Kagiso ‘KG’ Mokgadi, at the National Arts Festival. I bombed so badly the first night, I genuinely thought my career was over. I was devastated. But KG just said, ‘Hey bra… let’s go get some KFC.’ That small moment helped me realise that bombing happens to everyone, and I had to get over it. 

With everyone creating content and TikTok full of ‘funny people,’ how do you keep your comedy fresh while staying true to your voice? 

I stick to topics I’m comfortable with, what feels natural to me. If I find it funny, I post it. If it goes viral, cool. If it doesn’t, it’s not a train smash. I won’t lose sleep over it. 

Do you think cancel culture has censored comedians? 

I think it depends. I can separate the artist from the art but people have the right to cancel whoever they want. Like, at a wedding, when an R Kelly song plays, people will still dance. It’s complicated. But cancel culture can be selective, and that’s something we all have to navigate. 

How do you handle criticism, especially in such a public and personal art form? 

When it comes to my stand-up, I’m very protective of it. If someone in the audience gives constructive feedback, I listen. But if someone just criticises a video online? Scroll past it. If it’s not for you, that’s okay. 

If your life was a sitcom, what would it be called and who would play you? 

I’d want Cedric the Entertainer to play me. I don’t know what the name would be, but it’d definitely be about how I used to lie to my day job to go do gigs. Trying to balance comedy and a 9-to-5 was a comedy show on its own. 

In your family, who’s the funniest? 

My older brother. He’s way funnier than me. He never learned how to write jokes, but just as a person he’s hilarious. He was always the one cracking us up when we were kids. 

The lineup at the Laugh Africa Comedy Club will also include acts such as Vafa Naraghi, winner of the Comics’ Choice Breakthrough Act of the Year award 2024, as well as Jam Jam’s mentor and 2025 Headliner of the Year nominee, Kagiso ‘KG’ Mokgadi, and Sauce of the Year nominee Rory Petzer.  

Also look out for other local award winners like Hannes Brümmer, Kate Pinchuck, Lindy Johnson, Melt Sieberhagen, and Thabiso Mhlongo, not to mention American comedian Griff, a festival favourite.    

The Laugh Africa Comedy Club special is now streaming on Showmax.