Mawonga Gayiya, born and raised in the Khayelitsha township outside Cape Town, South Africa, has been an entertainer his whole life. From age 10, when he joined the College of Magic, he developed award-winning talents. In 2008 he made his first big break when he was selected to represent South Africa at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. Mawonga went on to win the Western Cape Junior Magician Championships and graduated from the College of Magic in 2009. In 2010 he starred in the acclaimed production, “Imagine” at the Artscape Theatre and received a Silver Medallion for his performance. He was a finalist in the FISM Africa championships held in Cape Town in 2012. With the same spirit he carried the flag high in China, Shanghai at the International Magic Championships in 2013.

Mawonga is well known for his unique style of magic “Comedy Magic” and is currently a popular entertainer at numerous events, product launches, conferences, festivals and social occasions. He is also a member of the College of Magic teaching staff and assists with training programs for disadvantaged young enthusiasts in Cape Town, the rural areas of the Western Cape and in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. Many will know him as “Wonga Magic” who entertains at private parties. His biggest success in magic was producing his own one man stand show "Astonish" which sold out at the College of Magic Theatre in 2014. In 2015 the show was produced and directed by the award-winning Stuart Lightbody. With so much success and exposure SABC approach Gayiya and created a documentary around his life as an Astonisher on 100% Youth for SABC 1. "Astonish" was later seen at the 2015 National Arts Festival against South Africa's top shows, but Mawonga's magic is 100% Astonishing and the sold out run proved it. Cue Newspaper reviewed it, saying: "Comparable to Trevor Noah back in The Daywalker days, his approachable humour takes on a tone that older audiences appreciate". Astonish is full of surprises, making you question whether Gayiya is a magician or a supernatural. Witness the funny magic, it guarantees to Astonish.

Audience Responses

Truly amazing!! We thoroughly enjoyed the show and Mawonga Gayiya is delightful, energetic and most professional. Go and see this show, you WILL be astonished!

Great show! Enjoyed the illusions and sleight of hand. Just misses a five because of some dips in engagement at times. he looked tired!

Thoroughly enjoyed the evening!

Was very good, thoroughly enjoyed it.....it was very hot in the theatre

Thoroughly enjoyed the evening!

Enjoyed the evening, nice and intimate.

I watched Stuart before and he was quite a bit better. I also suppose it didn't phase me as much because most of the tricks were the same. I don't think they were done as well. Bit rough around the edges. Still entertaining and was a fun evening. I will be coming back for more

astonishing!

astonishing!

I wish it had been a half hour longer.........he was that good!

astonishing!

Best way to banish the bleak start of the year - with wonder and astonishment.

It was fantastic to a) attend magic show, and b) see a new artist begin to shine.

At first I was quite skeptical of attending a illusion show. However, Mawonga was funny, great and blew my mind with his illusions. A great show that I would recommend others to see as well.

A pleasant person with some good tricks most nicely presented. No problems to recommend to others.

Great!

astonishing!