HONCHO OF THE MONTH: KOPANO MARUMO

In our second installment of “Honcho of the Month”, we chopped it up with an old friend, the lovely and super-ambitious Kopano “KP” Marumo. You might have spotted her on V-Entertainment or on Channel O’s The 411 engaging her audience or interviewing various celebrities. But there’s more to the woman than what meets the eye … Read on and see why she’s on our list of young Honchos to watch out for.

Hey hun… How are you doing?

I’m hella dope! Today was mind-blowingly awesome after the most stressful weekend of my life as I moved out my place. And moved back home. It’s funny how much stuff you can accumulate in a year and a half.

As for the awesome day I had, being on an actual soapie set for the first time ever and not as a reporter but an actual cast-member- what a trip! I think I may wanna be an actor now! It taken me 25 years to figure it out but I may have found my calling lol.

Reading your bio is a pretty exhausting task… In a nutshell, who are you and what do you do?

I’m a writer first and foremost. Words are my toys and I relish using them in the most eye-catching, even breathe-taking manner. As V-Entertainment’s script-writer, you gotta know how to cleverly juggle vocab in a way that makes people drop their jaws or pack out laughing. My other roles at V Entertainment on Vuzu tv also included producing inserts and getting celebs to say the darndest things.
What fun! Coz you really can’t begin to take celebrity culture seriously!

My career at DStv began as a TJ (text-jockey) on Vuzu TV’s Hit Refresh (formerly Late Touch/ Touch TV). I then moved on to Channel O’s version of text-to-TV The 411. And again all it entailed was me being cocky and very liberal with words. Easy!

My passion for all things media began back in High School as a writer for the school newspaper. I also directed a play during my Matric year. My first radio gig was at Tuks FM. And my first TV job was at MTV base. I’ve pursued many more gigs in those spheres since then. Hence the lengthy bio. I’m also very proudly South African so I take my roles as IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) youth ambassador and SAMA’s (South African Music Awards) Judge very seriously.

Tell us a little bit about your childhood … how was it and where did you grow up?

I grew up as a child of divorce, with a lil’ brother. Raised by a single-mother who is continuously propelling me towards greatness.   She’s the one that would take me to TV auditions, regardless of how many times I got rejected. Same woman that insisted that I email The Star when I was looking to do an internship at the now defunct This Day. Its like she knew that the people at The Star would be humble enough to  embrace me. I draw from her strength, independence and tenacious spirit. She’s the one that has kept me going when I had given up. She and my brother are my heart.

One of your claims to ‘fame’ is obviously your job as producer, scriptwriter and insert presenter on V-Entertainment … What is it about V-Ent that struck a chord with people?

I think our “nobody is safe” attitude made people feel validated to say all the things they say about celebs in the comfort of their homes. We say it for them. Writing such fearless commentary is the ultimate form of freedom. We painted international and local celebs with the same brush. None of that, oh but I know so and so. So the eff what if you do?!!

Your job at V-Entertainment meant that you had to pry into celebrities’ lives and things nearly got out of hand. Which celebs got really pissed off at you and were they any close encounters (e.g. a clap)?

There have been a few. Recently its Slikour that has annoyed me. He told us on camera, without any provocation on my part, that he was now single (much to my surprise). He spoke of how its not his baby’s fault that he broke up with his baby-momma and how he’s been celibate for two months and plans to continue that for another four. And I quote, “I’m in the market. But I’m not marketing”. We broke  the story the following night (after the Adibus launch) and a few  days later, without even contacting me (please note he’s one of my  BBM contacts), he told Sunday Sun that is was a joke. He even went  as far as accusing us of chopping off the bit where he apparently  told us its a joke. This bit doesn’t even exist. And Slikour acted  and talked single all through that night.

On top of that, the following night I bumped into his friend DJ Naves at the Soviet Relaunch (the night following Adibus, the night we broke the story) and Naves was on some I thought you guys got the scoop, can’t believe Slikour straight up told you. This also makes me believe that he did split with his baby-momma. Too bad he got in trouble for making it public knowledge. I think its messed up that he tried to use our show as his scape-goat, for damage-control. As if it’s our fault that he suffer from an extreme case of foot-in-mouth syndrome.

Then there was AKA. Who has gone on twitter numerous times to say that our research needs work. Just coz he didn’t like what we had to say about him. Case in point his beef with Tuks. He also did some damage-control at our expense by convincing Tuks to try make us stupid. So they colluded to announce via twitter, just an hour before we went live that no beef exists. It did exist. We have Tuks
on tape, telling AKA to keep his (Tuks’) name out his f**king mouth.

Needless to say AKA is always happy when we have him on the show but hates it when we showcase his drama. Double-standards much? Don’t even get me started on the DJ I love to hate, Euphonik. Who also caused a twitter stir by making a big deal out of nothing really. For the record, I’ve never had my life threatened. At least not to my face.

So word is you’re leaving your job to go travelling in the US …How true is this and what are your exact plans?

This is very true. I quit my job a month ago. The Au Pair gig has been something I’ve been mulling over for a while. I really, really wanna see the world but I can’t afford it. So I’m combining my love for kids and travel. On top of that, I’ll come out of it with an American education and maybe even an American boy

What informed your decision to quit a job that others would kill for?

I respect that my job is probably one of the most-wanted in the industry. But it’s not as glamorous as it looks. I’ve been at it for two years, writing a daily script- Monday to Friday- then attending events. I’ve taken strain, I’ve shaken it off and now I feel I’m ready to take on a new challenge.

I’ve worked for impressive companies such as Independent Newspapers (The Star, Saturday Star), MTV Networks Africa, YFM and now Don’t Look Down Convergence Agency (produces content for Vuzu TV, Channel O, Mzansi Magic, MK etc). I’ve freaked out about leaving awesome companies before but God  always has my back with a bigger plan. I’m really excited to find out what’s next!!! What’s meant to be will be.

Our youth seem increasingly obsessed with celebrities … Is this healthy? Would it not be better if we were obsessed with politics or business?

Nah. Politics are not fun. And that’s why Juju makes a better socialite than a law-maker. But the obsession with celebrity culture is scary. You only have to look at Kim Kardashian and see that something is very wrong when somebody’s claim to fame is a sex-tape with Ray-J that landed her family a reality show. Are you kidding me? What kinda message does that send to the youth out there that is  dealing with all kinds of peer-pressure and wanna emulate what they see on TV.

Now we are no longer content with awesome academics. Its all about who’s the most popular. And what’s the next reality show. We’ve become very obsessed with other people’s lives. And if Kim K is the prime example, then being a ho is the quickest way to the fame that were all dying to experience. And that’s how the Khanyi Mbau’s of this world are born. When you don’t have the budget to  look fab and be talked about, you look to a man to sort you out! But at what price? The price of your dignity? Your spirit? Your happiness? Life’s too short to live for material things.

What’s your true ambition in life and how do you think time in the US will help your realize it?

I’m on the pursuit of happiness and nothing else. My job had become mundane. daily sessions at my desk with a script. New event, same people. Week in. Week out. The world holds so many super sights. I wanna take as much of that in. And discover myself in the process. I know I love God, television, radio, writing, children, travelling and inspiring others. But what is it that I wanna do with the rest of my life? Dunno. Let’s go figure. So forget the American dream. I’m tryna do me.

Tell us about your upcoming stint in eTV’s Scandal? How did that come about and would you consider acting for a living?

Shot that just this morning. I was in absolute in awe of the presence and sheer talent of the legendary Sello Maake-ka-Ncube. I mean I grew up crushing on him, on Generations. And today I got to be in a scene with him, looking him dead in the eyes. Whilst another incredible actor Clint Brink engaged me too. Outstanding. And very humbling coz they were so cool to me. None of that unnecessary celebrity arrogance!

And again, I got to experience something new and challenging. Had  that fire under my ass. That passion that I live for. And it really got me thinking that I might be an actor and just never engaged the  thought. Now I wanna pursue it. And as much as I wanna be recalled for a permanent role in Scandal, they should hold off it for a year lol. *fingers crossed* I’m also thinking of taking acting classes in the States during my au pair year.

What’s the one thing you want to achieve before you die?

Greatness. A legacy. I wanna inspire young girls and make them aware of the mistakes I’ve made in my life so that they don’t have to make them too. And if they do make some mistakes, its also cool- coz mistakes have the ability to build character. You live, you learn!

How do you ‘Live Progressively’?

I think the fact that I get applauded for my no-nonsense journalism and not coz of my looks is huge. Its mos def not coz I’m ugly coz I ain’t lol. But my work shines ten fold! I appreciate being noticed for that and not coz my naked ass appeared in FHM or Playboy! Which I’d never do by the way. There’s a line by J Cole that fits: “I wouldn’t say you a ho/you just made a ho decision”.

And that’s why women such as Oprah and Chelsea Handler are my role-models. Physical beauty fades. But beautiful souls live forever. The measure of beauty isn’t in your Louboutins, your weave, your BMW or even your bank account. It’s in you. Find you. Embrace you. And live progressively.