The couple who have stood the test of time in the entertainment industry Tol Ass Mo (real name Mongezi Mahlangu) and Mome Mahlangu have managed to merge their business ventures but still have individual formats that are relevant today.
Tol Minangka Mo is considered one of the top comedians in the country, not without some controversy, and his wife Mome has grown the fitness and wellness brand to far corners of the industry.
The pair spoke to The Warga about what they have planned next.
Mome’s growing health brand
Mome, is a fitness teacher who loves natural ingredients, especially moringa and health.
For him, healthy eating is a way of life and he admits in his household he has to make sure that his children and wife at least follow it.
Mome said that she and Teekay, the eldest son, are more disciplined while Mo and Khumo the son, eat whatever they want because they are less health conscious.
“It’s a struggle, to be honest, Mo hasn’t worked out, he just survived the health product,” she said.
The products include superfoods and nutritional foods and not supplements, Mo joked that “supplements only give you expensive urine”.
Mome explains that moringa is an immune booster, has many nutritional benefits, and foods such as kombucha are part of her daily diet.
Mome has recently appeared in events such as Afternoon Express spread the message for health. Their products generally include moringa in teas, detoxes and soups.
Mome says that this lifestyle is consistent in her life, but for Tol Ass Mo this is a different journey, because she prefers to eat healthy.
“I use moringa every day,” it would be easy to assume that he was built for athleticism, agreeing that he is naturally a good runner. However, he started working with personal trainer Vusi Mavreka Hlabangwana to improve his fitness level.
Black Love
This is a rare narrative or conversation about the depiction of black love locally, only applied and encouraged in black media in America. Mome released a book dedicated to this subject called Mother is the depth of Black Love.
And like all business ventures, the book is sold on health websites. Mome said people don’t understand the concept of black love and it’s not about the ideal partner’s goals.
“I want us to talk about the things behind the word black love,” he said in the book he will go deeper into this, the struggle, the good and the bad of black love.
The couple has been together for about 14 years and Mo said that black love for him was a rediscovery.
“A lot of people think black love is hereditary, it’s in your DNA but I didn’t inherit it. I had to learn to love, especially from a family raised by women. [However] they don’t make you feel like you’re worth anything. Because it is difficult (it’s bad) growing up in a rough house where love (love) is hardly shown. It’s all about tough love.”
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The comedian said that his wife’s family taught him “what love really is”, to open up freely about your feelings and emotions.
Concluding on the topic, he said: “Black love should not be the last education… We need to take away the pain”.
The couple did not define black love as they played coy, said people should buy a book.
An uncomfortable conversation
Tol Ass Mo is working on a podcast with fellow comedian Eugene Khoza where he will tackle a variety of topics, however, Mo says the podcast is geared towards men.
Male podcasts have a bad reputation among some circles in the industry for their controversial views that are considered patriarchal and misogynistic.
Mo says he wants a platform where people can speak freely and not be attacked by certain groups for talking about uncomfortable conversations.
“We need to go back to listening, listening to each other, person to person. Talk about gender-based violence, why men become violent and how some of these men are raised by women.
Tol Ass Mo says the podcast will challenge people’s views and hopes to create a space for people to speak openly.
It is widely reported that Tol Ass Mo has been “exonerated” of rape charges in August 2022, brought by model Lerato Moloi.
After this experience, Mo has collaborated with Michael Bolhuis in an effort to help men and women who have been convicted or falsely accused of crimes do not act. He said this team consists of qualified professionals to help people get justice.
“I use myself as a platform to communicate for people seeking freedom and a way for people to prove their innocence.”
Since the court case battle ended Tol Ass Mo and Mome concluded he has returned to work.