From music to starring on the screen, 38-year-old Tumelo Johwa is no stranger to the limelight. Indeed, it is a role ‘Tux’ has enjoyed since his late teens, when he presented and produced ‘Teen Diversity’ a children’s talk show on BOB TV.
Signed up to Waka Agency, Tux, a star of local productions such as Ntwakgolo, Morwalela and Mojwadi, has worked with the best in the continent.
For the few who don’t know you, how would you introduce yourself?
I am Tumelo ‘King Tux’ Johwa: creative entrepreneur, actor, recording artist and producer. I am an all round great guy and a proud father.
And how has Covid-19 affected your professional plans?
Covid-19 affected my plans drastically! A lot of productions in the pipeline had to be slowed down or halted, one of them being a BW games show which was to be a Pan African franchise.
On the music side, performances have had to be downsized from live to virtual events. A lot had to be re-assessed.
Being a creative in the visual production space, innovation helps.
This is why I had to reconnect with Eli from GOGET media to create this single in an animated video game format, it was more costly than a usual live music video but during these dire times observing Covid protocols.
(Eli is the producer who edited my first award winning video at the Presidents day awards; we were the first to win that category at the time).
So for now it’s going virtual and creating more interactive entertainment.
So you have a new single out and an EP on the way – tell us more?
Oh yes, I am really excited about this. The EP is really about me as a collaborative artist.
It is a compilation of songs I have done with my favourite up-coming and super talented peers in the creative space hence the name National Treasure.
What is the one thing you still have from your childhood?
The one thing I still have from my childhood is the spirit to dream and persevere, I love to create.
What is the one habit you have picked up during the Covid-19 phase?
Apart from adapting to crisis, the one thing I have learned during these Covid-19 times is to manage expectations.
But I have also been reading a lot. It helps keep me sane.
With budgets stretched tight during these tough economic times, what have you had to cut down on?
I am quite the foodie so I have had to ration up responsibly on that budget.
Any acting gigs in the pipeline?
Acting gigs, yes. I had an international gig which unfortunately was put on halt when Covid-19 started but I have a few roles and produced projects locally which will hopefully be aired soon.
I am really excited about those, especially because of the people I get to work with; some I have trained before, some I have directed with and have gone on to do great things in their individual space.
Five things people don’t know about you?
1. I am an awesome cook
2. I am not as good a dancer as everyone says I am
3. I once spent a night in jail for mistaken identity
4. I am a seasoned voice over artist
5. My first gig was in 2000 with Unicef Childrens’s broadcasting which aired on the then BOB TV
