Her presence consumes the room as her laughter reverberates through the venue. Celeste Ntuli is a woman who simply doesn’t pull punches – she’ll poke fun at any subject from topical polygamy to her personal life. And although she’s not one to shy away from debate, there’s one thing this queen of Zulu comedy will […]
Her presence consumes the room as her laughter reverberates through the venue. Celeste Ntuli is a woman who simply doesn’t pull punches – she’ll poke fun at any subject from topical polygamy to her personal life. And although she’s not one to shy away from debate, there’s one thing this queen of Zulu comedy will not stand and that is the uneven treatment of women. “It’s sad that we’re not treated equally to men in society – or in our industry,” says funny woman Celeste Ntuli.
“I always tell people that I’m a stand-up comedian who has earned the right to be treated the same as any other comedian out there.” And Celeste has recently added yet another feather to her own cap as she becomes a TV household name appearing in more shows and overwhelming fans with a raw honest humour unlike anything on TV.
Viewing Celeste on stage one sees a courageous, confident woman who’s contented in her own skin. Along way from her days of insecurity when she initially joined the TV industry. With such a strong story behind her, she only has great things ahead. Apart from being an esteemed actress, this rural girl from Empangeni in KwaZulu- Natal is also the queen of Zulu comedy. She has heroically infiltrated this predominantly male-dominated industry, fitting right in and comfortably so with a persona that could take on the world …
She gives her audience authentic humour in her vernacular language, in a civilization that is moving away from their indigenous languages. Her wit is easy for women to relate to, and something for men to sit up and pay attention when she graces the stage. She has always stated as humbly as possible that she was born to be a star and she has aspirations for her own sitcom, Celeste, to air in homes throughout South Africa.
This is a fighting truth as she described in her youth, how she wasn’t the pretty one amongst a family of model figured relatives. It made her discover her real talent as well as stand up for herself and built a confidence that now filters into her performances that ultimately earns her the respect of veteran comedians. She has been doing stand-up comedy for more than nine years and her jokes never go out of style with a country filled with unaddressed issues and overdressed politicians.
With fans spread all over the country, she has come a long way from those “charismatic Louis Vuitton Durban July marquee churches” as she calls them where her audience was a mere 80 people. She is honestly a laugh a minute and say she was cautioned never to do blasphemous anecdotes. Ntuli also has her own DVD, Seriously Celeste, which she put out more than four years ago. She jokes around her weight and chooses in its place to celebrate her curvatures.
The 30 something, celebrated her birthday with a feature in a prominent women’s magazine and really takes on the topic of the limitations and behavioural codes implanted on women by society. Celeste Ntuli notes that the industry is still dominated by men, but says it is the ideal podium for women to let it all out. “I’m outspoken and people have a problem with me talking about sHex and all those other taboo subjects – because it’s supposedly unladylike to talk about these things.
I’m not ready to bow down to stereotypes. This is the reason my male friends say I’m still single.” Her first role after dropping out of university was Siphokazi Zungu in Isibaya. The audition call came through a friend and after noticing a few top notch actors, she honestly thought it was a prank. Comedy had prepared her to get into character roles easily.
The biggest character is the one Celeste Ntuli portrays to the public as a flamboyant and completely over the top. But she is also a spiritual person that believes time shouldn’t be wasted on being sad.
The first 99% Zulu Comedy hit Johannesburg’s Lyric theatre and left all in stitches and tears. It was one of several public events that she is so passionate about especially with the growth of vernacular comedy coming to light on social stages. When questioned where she got the courage to spew contentious jokes, Ntuli, the solitary female comic in the line-up, said her comedy was an everyday life commentary. 2015 was a very good year for Celeste.
Celeste Ntuli One Woman Show ‘Home Affairs 2” hosted at the Lyric Theatre was sold out that it had its second run at the theatre 2 months later. She was nominated under the “Flying Solo” category at SA Comics Choice Awards and performed at the Jacob Zuma Birthday Celebration where she was specifically requested.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and view our International site
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Born in Diepkloof Soweto, but raised in Sandton, Mum-Z – Conference Comedian has a style of comedy that can be universally appreciated drawing most of his content from his personal experiences for your Corporate event His career started with presenting on the SABC 2 teenage continuity programme ‘Kidz Can’ in 1997, he then delved in script […]
The 1925 Band started in February 2011 and has grown from performing one or two shows a month to one of the most demanded bands in South Africa. 1925 Band are three incredibly talented brothers, Reno, Jeff and David-Lee Gericke, with a passion for music who sings in angelic harmony. They are interesting and gets […]
Meet Lorne Sulcas – The Big Cat Guy, an unconventional motivational speaker who stands out from the crowd. With a career spanning since 1996, Lorne Sulcas has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, captivating audiences with his unique approach to motivational speaking. His presentations, under the banner of Thriving in a Wild World™, […]
Imagine a scenario where a room full of non-musicians seamlessly transforms into a harmonious orchestra, each member playing their part naturally and effortlessly. Now, envision Steve Barnett at the helm, orchestrating this symphony without uttering a single word, yet conveying volumes about leadership, communication, cooperation, and synergy. Steve Barnett is not just a motivational speaker; […]
Over the past 3 years, Kali Ilunga has worked with 150 start-ups. As co-founder of Silicon Valley in Your Pocket, he has bridged entrepreneurs with a network of 300+ angel investors once they were investor-ready. As co-founder of Viable, he has assembled 50 world-class coaches from companies such as Netflix, Google, and Square, as well […]
Sechaba Gqeba, affectionately known as Sechaba G, is a dynamic force in South African media—a celebrated radio and television personality whose voice, presence, and message resonate far beyond the airwaves. With a career spanning over two decades, she brings a commanding presence to every stage, seamlessly blending her passion for storytelling with an authentic connection […]
John Smit, a name synonymous with resilience and leadership in the rugby world, stands as one of South Africa’s most revered sports figures. As the 50th captain of the Springbok rugby union team, Smit’s tenure was marked by unparalleled dedication and a series of historic victories that have etched his name into the annals of […]
Sizakele Marutlulle, founder and CEO of a pan-African strategy and advisory firm, is a powerful voice in reimagining business through a human-centered lens. She champions Humancentric Creatives, a pioneering approach that places people, not just profit, at the heart of organizational success. Sizakele’s advisory work guides leaders across the continent to design inclusive futures, build […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
