ENTERTAINMENT
FIVE MINUTES WITH
NOMTHANDAZO RUBUSHE
BY VENECIA VALENTINE
MOTHERHOOD AND COMEDY MAY SEEM WORLDS APART, BUT FOR NOMTHANDAZO RUBUSHE, THEY COME TOGETHER EFFORTLESSLY. A MUM OF FIVE AND A NATURAL STORYTELLER, SHE TURNS THE CHAOS AND JOY OF PARENTING INTO RELATABLE, HEARTFELT COMEDY.
MOTHER’ S DAY CELEBRATES THE STRENGTH OF WOMEN – HOW HAS BEING A BUSY MOTHER OF FIVE SHAPED YOUR VOICE AND PERSPECTIVE AS A COMEDIAN?
I learn about myself through my kids. Being a mum has allowed me to be open-minded about certain questions, which I couldn’ t discuss with my mother as a young girl, but know my kids will need answers to.
WITH FIVE CHILDREN AND A DEMANDING COMEDY CAREER, WHAT DOES A“ TYPICAL DAY” LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
Taking the kids to school, going to gym, [ and ] doing a bit of work before having to pick them up again in the afternoon.
DO YOUR KIDS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMEDY, AND HAVE THEY EVER INSPIRED ANY OF YOUR JOKES OR MATERIAL?
They get my comedy, though the older ones sometimes get embarrassed by it … They definitely inspire my comedy because I’ m a storyteller and an observer, so sometimes I do write about my family life.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENT OF BALANCING MOTHERHOOD AND PERFORMING ON STAGE?
I have a lot of support from my parents and my husband, so I find that transitioning from mum to artist is very easy because I know my kids are in good hands.
HAVE YOUR CHILDREN EVER GIVEN YOU BRUTALLY HONEST FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR JOKES?
Yes – that it’ s embarrassing and I tell them that it’ s because they attach my performance to the role of being their mother, whereas on stage I’ m just a girl expressing herself through comedy and I’ m not their mum in that moment.
WHAT KIND OF MUM WOULD YOUR KIDS SAY YOU ARE VERSUS HOW YOUR AUDIENCE SEES YOU ON STAGE?
I’ m the same person to my kids as well as the audience, I speak my mind and am always calm.
DESCRIBE MOTHERHOOD IN ONE COMEDIC PUNCHLINE.
The only 24 / 7 job that doesn’ t pay and you have to pay your boss for it. IB
76 INBOUND SA / MAY 2026