It’s been a few months since Maurice Paige – the humble entertainer and fitness enthusiast – made his headline-worthy exit from the Savanna Newcomer Showcase. Now Maurice is stopping by MAN HQ to set the record straight…
He’s been on an upward trajectory since his acting debut in Isidingo, winning Grand Prix bodybuilding competitions and starring in the 2017 dance movie Pop, Lock ’n Roll. Today Maurice Paige is a household name, but who values respect over attention – because it means more to him than anything else. Chatting to him a year after our last interview, I had to address the ‘elephant in the room’. After he stormed out of the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town a few months ago – due to a distasteful joke made about the late AKA’s murder by a Durban comedian taking part in the annual Savanna Newcomer Showcase on the day of AKA’s memorial – the internet went crazy. I had to ask: “Bra, is everything okay?”
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
“You know me. Personally, I’m very big on respect in general,” he gets right to it. “I went to the comedy show and this guy had the audacity to actually talk about Kiernan’s passing in an insensitive way; to mention an AK-47, and that whoever took him out was small enough to do it with a pistol… that’s when I lost it! I did what any Capetonian with guts would’ve done,” he says. “I was like, this guy has no respect coming to Kiernan’s home town, on the day of his memorial, to do this.”
Maurice admits to shouting swear words as he left that day, but it was out of dismay and a feeling of needing to protect AKA’s legacy. “I value respect very much; it’s what my grandparents taught me growing up in Heidelberg. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, the simple thing that makes us human is having respect for one another,” he explains.
A man with a strong sense of humility and empathy instilled in him, Maurice goes on to advocate for maintaining a healthy, respectful manhood. “It’s all about loyalty, communication, commitment and, most importantly, staying humble. I pray a lot and have recently started meditating because I feel like it’s so important to stay in touch with who we are, especially as men in a country like South Africa… We need to work on ourselves.”
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COMING HOME
On a lighter note, Maurice has been keeping audiences locked to their screens as Tyron Daniels in KykNet’s popular Afrikaans soapie, Suidooster. “Tyron is a bit brash and forward, though very likeable,” he smiles. Fans were sad when the fitness fundi didn’t win the Tropika Island of Treasure All-Star reality-TV show. “I came out of that a better man than the previous season I was on,” he says. “I guess I’m more mature now. The best lesson I took from that was about searching for connection with others and building to overcome obstacles together as a team, because in life we are not a one-man island.”
“I FEEL LIKE IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHO WE ARE, ESPECIALLY AS MEN IN A COUNTRY LIKE SOUTH AFRICA… WE NEED TO WORK ON OURSELVES.”
Then, there’s Platform 9: Coming Home, the theatre production that South Africans just couldn’t get enough of this past summer. The show, a collaboration between Maurice and his off-screen mates Christo Davids and Theodore Jantjies, has received major praise for its relatable stories and clever comedy. “This time round was totally different and it was an exciting time that I think all three of us were surprised by. We had a four-week run at the Baxter Theatre [in Cape Town] that was very successful. I couldn’t be happier,” he says. “I’m very passionate about making people laugh. I got this trait from my grandfather. And, you know, South Africans can really resonate with this play because it’s light comedic relief and we’re always facing a lot of tough things, especially in the Cape. Comedy keeps us rejuvenated, lightens our spirits and reminds us all of the child inside of us.”
LOOKING AHEAD
So, what’s next for the charismatic entertainer? Well, his health and fitness will always come first. “My fitness goals are simple. I like to stay committed to the course I’ve taken to be in shape for any opportunity that pops up. I’m amped to take on new work, movies, fitness challenges, everything!” he enthuses.
Maurice is also excited to get his new secret project off the ground. “I’ve been working on my own project about men’s mental health. I took a leap of faith to create a story, produce, act and direct it,” he reveals. “We shot the pilot and now all fingers are crossed for the funding to create the artwork for my short film!” There’s something else I can’t not ask him about, and that’s the music side of things. Yes, he’s a rapper too! (What can’t this guy do, right?)
“I can definitely say there’s a big surprise coming,” he teases. “I’ve hooked up with two big artists, but I’m not going to mention names. This is something I’ve wanted to do for so long but just couldn’t find the right time. After Kiernan’s untimely passing, something inside of me just told me that it’s time to start making music again and just let that side of me live. So, yes. South Africa can expect something later this year…”
FAST FACTS
Signature scent:
1 Million by Paco Rabanne.
Fashion must-haves:
A watch and fresh sneakers.
Favourite theatre:
The Baxter in Cape Town.
Go-to chill spot:
Anywhere out in nature,
Celebrity icon:
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Best piece of advice you ever received:
“It’s best to be simple and simple is the best.”
Follow him
Facebook: Maurice Kap Vas Paige
Instagram: @maurice.paige80
TikTok: @mauricepaige7
PHOTOGRAPHS: AASHIQ ABRAHAMS, Z&A PHOTOS. DRESSED BY: MOTORCYCLE WORLD
WORDS CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE
