MPHO POPPS’ JOURNEY FROM THE STREETS OF SOWETO TO INTERNATIONAL STAGES

Mpho Popps is on a roll. His talent, hard work and dedication have taken him from the streets of Soweto to the centre of the comedy stage.

---

As a comedian, actor and producer, Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane has built a career as a captivating storyteller using his wit. The 37-year-old comedian, who paces the stage with an intensity that makes him seem as much a preacher as the brilliant funny guy he is, has not been afraid to tackle controversial subjects, evoking uncontrollable outbursts of laughter from his audiences thanks to his unique blend of wit, insight and social commentary.

LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE
“I’m funny,” he says, when asked why comedy? “That’s like asking Usain Bolt why he runs,” he quips. But Mpho Popps has also found that comedy served as a form of therapy for him. He has been unwittingly healing himself with each performance. “My comedy career was born from depression. At the time, I was at rock bottom – a point where you are numb to even physical pain,” he recalls.

Popps is a multifaceted performer whose persona varies depending on who you ask. With a remarkable career spanning over a decade, he is a genuine entertainer who can move between comedy, acting and producing with ease. “This is who I am, all day, every day. My goal is to spread laughs and bring joy to audiences around the world,” he says.

“I BELIEVE THAT MY TALENT AND SKILL ARE NOT A SHOW I PUT ON BUT AN EMBODIMENT OF MY TRUE SELF.”

FROM DREAM TO REALITY
For Popps, who was raised in Vosloorus and Soweto, it all started with the national comedy-search TV show So You Think You’re Funny, then appearances in Mzansi Magic’s Opening Guys, SABC2’s sketch show The Bantu Hour and M-Net’s Laugh Out Loud, and live stand-up comedy shows like ‘Mass Hysteria’ and ‘Blacks Only’ as well as one-man shows ‘Exhibit A’ and his annual ‘Birthday Comedy Special’.

Though Mpho Popps is best known for his comedic work, he appeared in several films and TV shows, too – from aYeYe and Strictly Come Dancing to MTV’s Lip Sync Battle Africa. A career highlight was starring in and producing the local film Thina Sobabili, which was selected to represent South Africa at the Oscars and Golden Globes in 2015 and won a SAFTA. Some of his other notable achievements include hosting the Comedy Central Roast of Khanyi Mbau, being a brand ambassador for companies such as MiWay, and producing, writing, and starring in his own comedy special. “Things I have written on my vision board have become a reality,” he says.

Mpho Popps has won several awards for his work as a comedian, including the Comics Choice Award for Breakthrough Comic in 2012 and the Headliner of the Year Award in 2019. He has also appeared at several prestigious comedy festivals around the world, including in Montreux, Melbourne, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

“THIS IS WHO I AM, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. MY GOAL IS TO SPREAD LAUGHS AND BRING JOY TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD.”

THE COOL DAD
Of the many hats he wears, the one he loves the most is being a father. “My daughter is exactly like her dad. She is the spitting image of me,” he enthuses. “She is a very dedicated student, very tall, and claims to be the funniest person in our house. She is such an amazing child. We spend a lot of time together.”

By the time Mpho Popps was seven years old, his father had left the picture due to his parents’ divorce. So quality time with his daughter, Imani, allows him to do all the things he wished he had done with his dad at that age. “It is so exciting that my schedule allows me to spend a lot of time with her,” he says. “Her and I have our own special daddy and daughter time. It’s a weird thing; I get to be a kid again. Something one often misses.”

Fast Facts with Mpho

First thing you do in the morning?
Listen to TD Jakes.

What would your superpower be?
To be invisible or invincible. I get confused between those two! Yeah, one of those.

What’s one question you hate being asked?
“Tell us a joke.”

One thing most people don’t know about you?
I have no sense of smell.

What would your last meal be?
My sister’s lamb stew.