Life’s not just a laugh for Kekana

Content creator Ayabonga Kekana, who has become known as the Xhosa “Men’s Association” spokesperson, intends using his comedy skits to create a society that tackles social ills head on.

The Richmond Hill resident, an SABC news host for a current affairs show on TRUFM, has amassed 50,300 followers on Tiktok with a total of 1.8 million views on his page and 43,272 followers on Facebook

Kekana, 30, is originally from Tyutyu village in Bhisho and obtained his national diploma in journalism at Walter Sisulu University in 2018.

He said he had been inspired to do skits with a comedic twist “as the spokesperson for men”, during the early stages of the hard lockdown in 2020.

“Men were messing up; the statistics for gender-based violence were going up; there were reports of relationships ending.

“Men were frustrated. They were not used to being at home.

“I was motivated to speak on their behalf, which was hard because they were messing up and men would send me topics that they wanted addressed, such as absent fathers, and mothers who do not want us to be part of their children’s lives.

“I had to find a creative way to put that message across.”

He said one of the highlights had been when Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane acknowledged that he was familiar with the comedy content at the public servants awards in 2021.

“I said, ‘wow, the premier recognises me not as a journalist, but as a comedian, a content creator. “He found me funny.

“I asked to shoot a video with him after our interview. He asked that I send him the video. He posted it on his Facebook page, and 30 minutes later it was trending.

“He still recognises me when we meet, but it was not just him.

“The deputy minister of state security Zizi Kodwa [also acknowledged my work].”

At times, he said, it was overwhelming that his platform, which he started for fun, had become a platform to discuss serious societal matters.

“I check if men relate to my topics. How is it helping them, how is it fixing or assisting the community?

“I have a responsibility that if I make a video, it will change people’s minds, it will spark debates.

“This content was never created to say ‘men are right and women are wrong’.

“There are many instances where we condemn men, absent fathers, men who have money who use vulnerable women.”

He said he saw himself becoming an international brand focused on driving campaigns similar to the one he will launch in September called Redefining a Man.

“Eventually I will write a book where I will ask men how they define a man and then ask what type of man we wish to see in society in the future.

“I want to be that activist through content creation to see how can we change the world for the better,” Kekana said.