Dapper Mo turns on the Magic

Mo Magic

Mo Magic

Published Nov 2, 2015

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Debashine Thangevelo

DAVID Copperfield, David Blaine, Criss Angel, Penn & Teller, Derren Brown and, more recently, Dynamo, have become the celebrated pillars in the world of magic and illusion.

Now, homegrown magician, Mo Magic (real name Mahommed Moorad), is following their legacy, so to speak.

Always looking dapper whenever you see him, Mo Magic is also chuffed about bagging his own TV show on SABC3, called Magic with Mo.

He graduated as an electronic engineer from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and worked in that field for six-and-a-half years before realising that he couldn’t deny his passion for entertaining.

So he quit and has pursued it on a full-time basis for the past five-and-a-half years. However, he has been doing it for a lot longer – 13 years to be exact.

Recalling what spurred his interest in magic, he reveals: “While I was a student at ’varsity, I began questioning my path and purpose in life. So I began attending personal development seminars. It was there that I learnt that we could choose the quality of life we wanted. A short time later, I was sitting with my best friend, working on an electronic design project. We decided to take a break and he suggested I switch on the television while he made some coffee. That was when I saw David Blaine on TV. While I had seen the same show a few years prior, that night I felt something inside of me shift. I knew there and then that I wanted to astonish people with the art of magic.

“I perform magic that spans various genres including sleight-of-hand, mind reading, metal bending and psychokinesis magic. The show incorporates popular stunts that have been performed by magicians for centuries. I customise my magic to make the effects contemporary and relatable with my audiences.”

On the germination of his TV show, he reveals: “Since I began the art of magic, I’ve always wanted to share the experience of magic with South Africans and TV is the perfect platform. Over the years I’ve been invited onto a number of TV shows to perform my magic. However, my dream was to create and perform in my own TV show, sharing the beautiful world of magic, as I see it, with audiences.

“Over the years, I spoke about this dream to many people and continued to believe in my vision. About two years ago, I was introduced to Bongiwe Selane from Blingola Media, who believed in my vision. I pitched the idea to her and we took this to the SABC.”

In the show, he has already attempted an escape trick as a tribute to Harry Houdini. He also levitates and has a few tricks up his sleeve in a special Halloween episode.

He offers: “The show features celebrity guests, too. And their reactions are incredible.”

Of course, every magician has their own style and approach.

Shedding light on his, Mo Magic reveals: “Personally, I like to romance and charm my audience with my magic and astonish them, rather than shock them to elicit reactions.”

Magic with Mo airs on SABC3 on Saturdays at 7pm.

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