Kris with a K triumphs
Winning with wit
30 December 2020 | Art and Entertainment
Kris with a K; Comedian; “This one is huge and means a lot to me…”
Windhoek • [email protected]
Kristian “Kris with a K” Hafunda Hafunda Jr (24) put Namibia on the map when he scooped the title of Best Comedian in the Rest of Africa category at the recent South African Comedy Awards.
According to the comedian, the award has boosted his confidence.
“This one is huge and means a lot to me because it is my first ever international award.”
He dedicated the award to everyone who never stopped believing in him.
“This is proof that such accolades can be acquired by the ordinary. Keep the passion and work on your art consistently,” he said.
Kris with a K is not new to winning awards. In 2015, he won the Best Newcomer Comic of the Year award at the Namibian's Free Your Mind Comedy platform. A year later, he took home second prize at the Namibian Talent Show hosted by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre.
Local comedians who inspires include Lazarus Jacobs, Slick and Iileka, while George Carlin, Chris Tucker and Dave Chappelle are some of the comedians from abroad who Kris with a K looks up to.
The UNAM Bachelor (Honours) of Media Studies and Drama graduate says that people always told him that he is funny. This is what led to him pursuing a path in comedy.
“People always laughed at things I said although I am a serious person. Everything I say is serious, but even then they laugh.”
His UNAM lecturer, Tanya Terblanche, told him to consider doing stand-up in 2014, which he knew nothing about back then.
“She referred me to Free Your Mind Comedy, where I was a spectator for the whole year, learning how it all works before getting on stage. My first performance was at a UNAM Fun Night organised by the Visual Arts students. I got a good response from my jokes and so I went ahead and took part in a few competitions.”
Asked about the level of comedy in Namibia, the Okongo-raised Hafunda Jr says that the comedy industry is not too populated which makes it easier for aspiring comedians.
“Anyone who is truly passionate about comedy can stand out if they figure out what they want to achieve. When you do, work hard. The industry is also so small that all comics literally know each other and support each other by working together.”
He urged Namibians to support their local comics the same way they love international comedians like Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart and others.
“Feedback from our supporters is the only way we can see how and where we can improve our art.”
According to him, the thought process of constructing a joke comes from various aspects of life.
“I love to find social problems, or basically anything that we as humans go through and consider problems. I then joke about these things and try to bring a solution to the table.”
He urged everyone to “sit down, block out all the noise and destruction, focus your mind on what you want to achieve in this life before you kick the bucket, formulate a plan and stick to it.”
The South African Comedy Awards took place at the Soweto Theatre in Johannesburg on 15 December. Kris with a K waits in anticipation for his award to be couriered to him, as he was not present at the ceremony.
Kristian “Kris with a K” Hafunda Hafunda Jr (24) put Namibia on the map when he scooped the title of Best Comedian in the Rest of Africa category at the recent South African Comedy Awards.
According to the comedian, the award has boosted his confidence.
“This one is huge and means a lot to me because it is my first ever international award.”
He dedicated the award to everyone who never stopped believing in him.
“This is proof that such accolades can be acquired by the ordinary. Keep the passion and work on your art consistently,” he said.
Kris with a K is not new to winning awards. In 2015, he won the Best Newcomer Comic of the Year award at the Namibian's Free Your Mind Comedy platform. A year later, he took home second prize at the Namibian Talent Show hosted by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre.
Local comedians who inspires include Lazarus Jacobs, Slick and Iileka, while George Carlin, Chris Tucker and Dave Chappelle are some of the comedians from abroad who Kris with a K looks up to.
The UNAM Bachelor (Honours) of Media Studies and Drama graduate says that people always told him that he is funny. This is what led to him pursuing a path in comedy.
“People always laughed at things I said although I am a serious person. Everything I say is serious, but even then they laugh.”
His UNAM lecturer, Tanya Terblanche, told him to consider doing stand-up in 2014, which he knew nothing about back then.
“She referred me to Free Your Mind Comedy, where I was a spectator for the whole year, learning how it all works before getting on stage. My first performance was at a UNAM Fun Night organised by the Visual Arts students. I got a good response from my jokes and so I went ahead and took part in a few competitions.”
Asked about the level of comedy in Namibia, the Okongo-raised Hafunda Jr says that the comedy industry is not too populated which makes it easier for aspiring comedians.
“Anyone who is truly passionate about comedy can stand out if they figure out what they want to achieve. When you do, work hard. The industry is also so small that all comics literally know each other and support each other by working together.”
He urged Namibians to support their local comics the same way they love international comedians like Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart and others.
“Feedback from our supporters is the only way we can see how and where we can improve our art.”
According to him, the thought process of constructing a joke comes from various aspects of life.
“I love to find social problems, or basically anything that we as humans go through and consider problems. I then joke about these things and try to bring a solution to the table.”
He urged everyone to “sit down, block out all the noise and destruction, focus your mind on what you want to achieve in this life before you kick the bucket, formulate a plan and stick to it.”
The South African Comedy Awards took place at the Soweto Theatre in Johannesburg on 15 December. Kris with a K waits in anticipation for his award to be couriered to him, as he was not present at the ceremony.
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