Jonny Pula: Funny guy by calling
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday February 25, 2024 06:00
But for Jonny Pula, just like a few, he says being a comedian is more of a calling for him as it came from his inner self.
From a young age, he says there was something in him that always told him that comedy was his chosen career path.
He told Arts&Culture that his inner voice always made him curious about being a comedian. “Years later, one of my best friends whom we used to share about stand up comedy told me that there was a comedy club.
We tagged along and started comedy together.
Even though he left along the way to start a family, I continued. I have grown so much and travelled a lot through comedy. It helped me meet many people of different cultures and languages. It has groomed me to the extent that I am exposed to different music genres. I have grown up into a better person as well. I have also grown financially,” he said.
Jonny Pula also explained that comedy helped him establish a better relationship with his parents as he used to be a problem child. He added that once he started dedicating his life to comedy and being a better person, his relationship with his parents became stronger. He also became religious.
Even though he started writing his jokes in 2011, he says it was in 2014 when he decided to perform. He said before fully engaging in comedy, he did not know where comedy was done in the country, adding that he used to tell his jokes during parties. He pointed out that locally, he was inspired by MOD, Triccs and BK while internationally he looked up to American comedian Katt Williams who he grew up watching, Mpho Popps, Mojack Lehoko and Loyiso Gola from South Africa. He added that he likes all comedians since they do a sterling job. Jonny Pula is a co-founder of Gaborone Comedy Club and the club’s graphic designer. He is also the co-director, co-writer and creator of the Jonny Pula and Triccs Comedy, a popular online show. “The time I started comedy, the type of comedy I do had no market.
I felt there was a gap. Everyone was doing hardcore comedy because they grew up in a township. As a middle-class guy, a guy who went to a private school, I wanted to speak for my people since they did not get enough exposure because they were few. I am speaking for us the guys from English medium schools,” he said.
Jonny Pula studied architectural technology at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. He says he worked for over five years until 2020 when he ventured into comedy full-time,” he said. Furthermore, he said he felt he was a breath of fresh air as he was doing a different type of comedy. He added that he was an ice break from the norm adding that he was an alternative comedian for people who are tired of the same comedy trends. This comedian prides himself in having won the FNBB comedy competition where he was selected in to the top 10 talented local comedians in 2020.
Around the same year, he was nominated Top African Comedian at the South African Comedy Awards. He added that he wanted to change the local comedy scene and host big comedy events where he would also attract more international revellers. He added that he would like to start touring international countries with his work and setting up a stable comedy industry in Botswana.