Inside Khanyisa Bunu’s life and her trailblazing path in South African entertainment
Khanyisa Bunu is a South African stand-up comedian, author, and actress hailing from Eastern Cape. She has been making thousands laugh owing to her hilarious punch lines, most of which South Africans can relate to.
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Key takeaways
- Bunu has always had a funny bone at school, among her friends and family.
- The comedian has performed in places like the USA, Nigeria, Botswana, and Swaziland.
- Opening for Trevor Noah’s There’s A Gupta On My Stoep tour in Johannesburg and Durban in August 2017 has remained one of her greatest achievements.
Khanyisa Bunu's profile summary
Full name | Khanyisa Bunu |
Gender | Female |
Place of birth | Lady Free, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Ethnicity | African |
Profession | Comedian, actress, author |
Khanyisa Bunu's biography
Khanyisa Bunu was born in the Eastern Cape but raised in Whittlesea, South of Queenstown. Growing up, Khanyisa was always the center of attention, at home and school, because of her mischief and naughtiness.
After matric, Bunu registered for law but never studied for her exams. As a result, she failed dismally and admits to wasting her parents’ money.
Khanyisa had to stay home in Whittlesea for a year until she figured out what to do. While she never aspired to venture into the entertainment industry, fate had other plans for her.
Today, Khanyisa can be described as a one-woman wrecking crew on stage. She has caught the attention of the local entertainment scene and the international comedy circuit.
How old is Khanyisa Bunu?
Khanyisa Bunu's age is unknown since the famed comedian has not shared her birthdate with the public.
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Was Khanyisa Bunu a teacher?
Bunu was a high school Geography and English teacher at Zolani High in Whittlesea, Queenstown. Although she quit after eight years to pursue comedy, Khanyisa loved her job. She recalled:
There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t get a kick out of making my students or the teachers roar with laughter.
Stand-up comedy career history
After quitting teaching, Khanyisa took a leap of faith and relocated to Johannesburg in 2008 to follow her talent. In Johannesburg, she auditioned for SABC1's stand-up comedy competition, So You Think You're Funny.
Bunu was eventually eliminated from the show, but being among the top six finalists laid a solid foundation for her to pursue a full-time career as a comedian, actress, and entertainer.
Khanyisa became the first woman to win one of the most coveted Audience Choice Awards during the 2015 Savanna Comic's Choice Awards.
She has performed on some of South Africa’s most prestigious comedy stages, including The Lyric Theatre, the Sand Du Plessis Theatre, Carnival City, and the South African State Theatre.
Bunu has also hosted several high-profile events like Kings & Queens of Comedy, 99% Xhosa Comedy, Blacks Only, the Soweto Comedy Festival, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, and the Comedy Central Roast Battle.
Internationally, Bunu had outstanding performances in Nigeria, Botswana, Swaziland, and most notably at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club in New York City, USA, and opening for Trevor Noah’s There’s A Gupta On My Stoep tour in Johannesburg and Durban in 2017.
What's more, the comedian has guest appeared on South African television shows like Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola on e.tv and eNCA and The Bantu Hour on SABC 2. Her most well-known performances have been on Ses Top La Season 4 on SABC 1 and on e.TV’s Scandal.
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Khanyisa Bunu's comedy specials
The Khanyisa Bunu Comedy Special, released on Showmax in 2019, was nothing short of funny. She currently features alongside comedians Mpho Popps and Vafa Naraghi in The F-Show (2025) on Showmax.
Khanyisa Bunu's work as an author
Bunu has written as a columnist for several community newspapers over the past years, and her first Xhosa novel, Umbhodamo, was published in 2013 by Maskew Miller. It is a set book in the Eastern Cape for Grade 8 and 9 students.
Khanyisa Bunu's work as an actress
Bunu made her acting debut in 2017 in SABC1's sitcom Ses'Top La, where she replaced Brenda Ngxoli's character, Pinky, with her character, Nobuhle, from the fourth season.
She would later feature in Scandal as Dambisa Maduna. Viewers were left in stitches when her character uttered the unexpected punchline “umpu” in a dramatic scene, which went viral soon after.
Many went online to search for "Dambisa from Scandal's real name and age," and finding out that the actress behind the character was none other than comedian Khanyisa Bunu increased her fame tremendously.
Khanyisa has also starred in these South African television series:
- #Karektas - Season 2 as a celebrity guest
- Judge Thenjiwe Khambule - Season 1 as Case #2
- Legacy - Season 2 as Francina
- The Republic - Season 2 as MK's Maid
Who is Khanyisa Bunu's husband?
There is no available information about her husband since she prefers to keep her love life away from the limelight.
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Bunu's social media accounts
The super-talented comedian is active on these social media platforms:
- Khanyisa Bunu's Instagram account: @bunukhanyisa
- Khanyisa Bunu's X (Twitter) handle: @khanyisa_bunu
- Khanyisa Bunu's Facebook page: Khanyisa Bunu
Is Khanyisa Bunu still alive?
Yes, the comedian is still alive. He lives in Kempton Park in the Gauteng province of South Africa.
Facts about Khanyisa Bunu
- She is a Delphic Comedy World Champion.
- She won a writing competition organized by Maskew Miller Longman publishers.
- The company published her Xhosa novel, Umbhodamo.
- She has a lifelong passion for empowering women through football.
- She was the first female to win an award at the Comics Choice Awards.
- When Covid-19 hit, Khanyisa started a business to stay afloat, and today she is thriving.
Khanyisa Bunu stands out as one of the best female comedians South Africa is proud to have. Her clean comedy sets her apart in the current world of stand-up since she can perform anywhere from church to corporate events, weddings, schools, clubs, etc.
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Source: Briefly News
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