Want to spend your weekend watching a financial literacy course? Possibly not. What about a fin lit course hidden in a comedy show led by some of South Africa’s favourite acts? Sanlam’s The F-Show – presented by multi-award-winning comedian Mpho ‘Popps’ Modikoane, alongside supporting acts Vafa Naraghi and Khanyisa Bunu – is exactly this. A hilarious comedy show, streaming on Showmax from 13 June, to get South Africans talking about the one thing we really don’t want to discuss; the F-Word – our finances.
Money talk may often be taboo but there’s nothing more relatable than finances. And, when we make finances funny, we’re usually comfortable to ‘talk money’ more. This is the human insight behind the F-Show. South Africans love to laugh and we’re good at laughing at ourselves.
Mariska Oosthuizen, Chief Marketing Officer at Sanlam, explains, “South Africans are known for using humour to tackle tricky topics but when it comes to money, the conversation is much harder. Yet, research shows that openly discussing finances leads to better mental wellbeing, stronger relationships, and improved financial outcomes. Our goal is to empower people to live with financial confidence, security, and prosperity. The F-Show is our creative way of making these conversations more accessible – because if we can get people laughing about money, they’ll be more willing to engage with it.”
More context for the comedy:
The F-Show is a screening of Sanlam’s sold-out comedy special. Last year, over three fully booked nights at Theatre on the Square in Johannesburg, audiences were treated to a show like no other. Popps, Naraghi and Bunu delivered laugh-out-loud performances – each woven around key financial lessons developed by personal finance expert and author Sam Beckbessinger. Now, for the first time, the recorded special will be available to stream, allowing the entire country to join the conversation.
For Popps, the idea was an instant win, “Money is the real ‘F-word’ – no one wants to talk about it. That’s why humour is so important. Partnering with Sanlam on this project has been amazing because it’s a real game-changer.”
Popp’s didn’t ‘talk money’ when growing up, “I grew up in a family where we just didn’t talk about money, and I struggled financially because of it. Now, I make sure to have open conversations with my daughter and my wife. We have to normalise these discussions – it’s the only way to break the cycle.” His experience is not unique. In fact, Sanlam’s Dirtiest Word research revealed a staggering 60% of polled participants grew up in homes where finances were never discussed.
Beckbessinger, who distilled years of financial wisdom into the lessons for the show, says that money is deeply tied to emotions like fear and shame, making it a topic many people prefer to avoid. However, humour has a unique way of breaking down barriers, allowing people to face financial conversations with less anxiety. She hopes that when The F-Show drops on Showmax, it will continue to be a conversation starter in South African homes.
What’s Next? Keep the Conversations Going
The F-Show’s greatest impact may lie in showing people they’re not alone. Financial stress can feel isolating, but this show highlights that many share the same challenges. Beckbessinger explains that opening up is the first step to regaining control – solutions exist, but they can only be found when we start the conversation.
Oosthuizen adds that she hopes that by tapping into our shared humour, The F-Show makes money talk feel less daunting, encouraging people to learn from, laugh with, and support each other. After all, open conversations about money are key to building financial confidence.
Don’t Miss It!
The sold-out show that got South Africans talking about money is now coming to screens nationwide. Catch The F-Show, streaming on Showmax from Friday, 13 June. Follow Sanlam’s social media channels for more updates.
