1.How did you get into Comedy and How long have you been performing?
SAMANTHA ( GONYET ) : i actually started acting in 2008 but when it comes to doing comedy skits that started in 2010 when I featured in a short film called "You Owe Me" my major breakthrough came last year in 2015 when i was called to be part of “P.O.Box” recently rebranded to "Busstop TV" .
SHARON ( MAGGIE ) : I have always loved acting but never really thought that comedy was my for me. It just happened that “P.O.Box” recently rebranded to "Busstop TV"chose me to be part of the team and I ended up doing sketch comedy that as in 2015, so it's been a year now
2.What do you love most about doing sketch comedy ?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): I love the fact that we tackle real life and sensitive issues in a humorous way.
SHARON( MAGGIE ): Shooting/filming the sketches is exciting. You should visit on set, it's million times more fund than what you guys/ the audience see online. Then there is the feedback, it's so fulfilling and encouraging when people laugh and enjoy our work.
3.You have a gazillion online followers/fans how do you manage all the attention?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): It is all about being principled and remaining focused ,I try not to get carried away by their comments by keeping my cool an striving to be better than before.
SHARON( MAGGIE ): Gazillion? Really! Well personally, for me it's fun, I get to take so many selfies, lol. Seriously though people don't really recognise me at first glance, unless I am with Samantha “Gonyeti" or Ngomashi Prosper “Comic Pastor". They say I appear to be taller and more mature on screen than in real life.
4.What is the biggest challenge you have faced / or face as a female stand up comedian?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): as a female in a male dominated industry you find the going tough as some people still think male are better than females .I however have an excellent working relationship with my team and colleagues who are my producers Lucky Aaron, Godknows Homwe, fellow comedians Prosper Ngomashi "Comic Pastor" and my dearest Sharon chideu "Maggie"who have been very supportive.
SHARON( MAGGIE ): I would say that i am my own biggest critic, I find i am often filled with self doubt constantly asking myself “if can I do this? I am i funny etc.
5.Who inspires you?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): Pretty much anyone who puts in the work to realise their dreams inspires me.
SHARON( MAGGIE ): Tina Fey, that woman knows what she is doing. She is a writer, actor , producer she is everything i aspire to become. Plus she is a great impressionist.
6.Are you married / kids ? If so how do you balance everything ?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): Well umm No to all the above :-)
SHARON ( MAGGIE ): I am not married, very single mother of 1 very beautiful girl, Samara, she is a year 6months old. I have a great support system in my mum, brother and a maid who are always there to help me out when we have late night or all day shoots or events.
7.What words of wisdom would you give to young women looking to get into comedy?
SAMANTHA( GONYET ): I would just encourage them to be vigilant and be principled from the onset know that determination and hard work will always see you through ,there are no shortcut to success and above all else be prayerful.
SHARON( MAGGIE ): Stop doubting yourself and being your own worst enemy. Move around, see what's out there, go see other comedians perform.
8.Where did you stage names come from Samantha ( Gonyeti ) , Sharon (Maggie)
SAMANTHA ( GONYET ): the name emanated from one of the skits I did with "boss Kedha n Bhutis", where the two where filling up potholes and their aim was to collect money from vehicles but unfortunately no vehicle passed through, so they saw me coming and said look at that Gonyeti (because I'm heavily built)coming and the name stuck to me from then on.
SHARON ( MAGGIE ): Maggie comes from Magirazi, I wear spectacles. One day I was walking past a Kombi rank and someone was calling out for a "Maggie" but Maggie wasn't answering, then he said "iwe Maggie, Magirazi!" lol