Magic tricks mean the world to him

Khayelitsha magician Mawonga Gayiya has celebrated 15 years of performing magics tricks and funny stories at Isivivana on Friday night.

During the event, the audience was not only entertained with magic, but comedy and music was in the offering as well.

Inspired by his magician brother, Gayiya,27, said he started magic at the age in 2003.

“My older brother was a magician and I would watch him do tricks,” he said. “I fell in love with it.”

He then decided to register with the College of Magic in Landsdowne.

Gayiya said after graduation, he was lucky enough to be recruited as a teacher at the college.

He said growing up in the township and being a magician is a difficult combination. He said he battled to explain his profession to people.

“Magic was a foreign art form in my community and it was also seen as witchcraft, which made it difficult for me to explain,” he said.

Gayiya said people’s perception of magic was changing with more people being involved in the art.

Over the years, he has entertained audiences here and abroad, he said.

“I performed in(competitions) in the USA and China, and made it(to) the finals even though I did not win anything which made me proud of myself,” he said.

Gayiya said he performs by invitation to events and schools. He also teaches learners important life lessons such as discipline.

Ayanda Hans,29, who was at the celebration said she enjoyed the magic show and would love to see more of it.

Akhona Shinga, 28, whom Gayiya performed a card trick on, said she could not keep up with the conjurer.

“I loved the show,” she said.