If laughter is the best medicine, Durban and Cape Town audiences are about to get a very generous prescription.
Some of South Africa’s biggest comedy names, along with a few rising stars, are teaming up for Bafunny Bafunny, billed as South Africa’s national comedy team, which rolls into the Globe at Suncoast on Saturday, September 19.
The tour, which kicked off in Pretoria earlier this month, will wrap up at the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town on September 25 and 26.
Leading the comedy charge is none other than Trevor Noah, with a handpicked squad featuring Eugene Khoza, internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, Rory Petzer, Nonto R and Lindy Johnson among others.
For Petzer, being selected for the team is the stuff of comedy dreams.
"It’s one of those pinch me moments and I’ll never, ever forget it," he said.
Petzer who will be performing in the Durban leg of the tour, reckons South Africa is basically a comedian’s dream workplace, because the country supplies enough material.
"The best part is that most of us enjoy laughing at ourselves so it makes creating the comedy so much more rewarding. We’re the best country in the world with the best stories and our comedians tell them so well.
"South Africans will always try to find the funny in anything. Even during our darkest times in load shedding, the memes on social media were fire. Another good example is the fuel price. As soon as it goes up, there are more memes than ‘moans’ on social media. South Africans have been through a lot and we use our unique sense of humour as a coping mechanism," said Petzer.
He added that the show has been carefully crafted to have something for everyone.
For Nonto Rubushe, better known as Nonto R, being part of Bafunny Bafunny is both exciting and a little bit special.
"Being on a line-up with some of South Africa’s incredible comedians is both exciting and inspiring. Comedy can sometimes be quite an individual journey, so there’s something special about coming together, sharing one stage and seeing the different styles and perspectives that make South African comedy what it is," she said.
And performing the Durban leg in front of her home crowd is something she is particularly looking forward to.
She said South Africa gives comedians material every single day.
"Sometimes you wake up and the country has already written your set for you. Comedy has always been a way for us to process what is happening around us.
"But it’s not only politics. It’s the economy, relationships, family, culture, social media, raising children and just the everyday experience of being South African. We laugh because sometimes that’s how we survive difficult things. A comedian can take something everyone is frustrated about and turn it into a moment where an entire room says, 'Exactly! I thought I was the only one!'," said Rubushe.
Rubushe also believes South Africans’ willingness to laugh at themselves is one of the country's greatest comedic strengths.
"I think that is one of our greatest qualities. We come from so many different cultures, languages and backgrounds, but humour has this incredible ability to bring us together," said Rubushe.
And local audiences, she added, are not shy about giving comedians honest feedback.
"Our audiences are also very honest. They will let you know when something is funny, and they will definitely let you know when it isn’t. There’s a warmth and energy to South African audiences that makes performing here very special," she said.
Rubushe added that the diversity of the Bafunny Bafunny line-up is one of the strengths.
"You have comedians with different backgrounds, languages, life experiences and completely different approaches to comedy. That means audiences aren’t watching the same voice repeated throughout the night. Each comedian brings their own flavour, and collectively it becomes a really good reflection of the richness of South African comedy.
"The audience can expect a lot of KwaZulu-Natal flavour. My comedy comes from my own life and observations, family, relationships, being a woman, being a mother, our culture and the everyday madness we all recognise," she said.
Rubushe said she loves comedy that makes people see themselves in the story.
"So even when I’m talking about something very specific to my experience, I want someone in the audience to think, 'That is my mother,' 'That is my husband,' or 'That is literally me!'”
"Most importantly, they can expect me to have fun. I’m coming to make people laugh," she said.
Johnson said it is a massive honour to be amongst some of the greatest and talented comedians in the country.
"That includes Learnmore, because Zim is basically our 10th province at this point," joked Johnson.
Johnson, meanwhile, has plenty to say about the country’s political scene, although, in her view, politicians are making life rather difficult for comedians by providing an endless supply of jokes themselves.
"It makes me furious that the politicians in South Africa take over our jobs by being living and breathing jokes all the time. When unemployment is so high the least they can do is give us the chance to exaggerate their incompetence in any way," she said.
Johnson believes South Africans have perfected the art of turning difficult experiences into comedy.
The old saying, she noted, is that tragedy plus time equals comedy.
"South Africans have learned to not only overcome a lot but refuse to let it weigh us down. When you approach any subject matter with respect and manners, South Africans are willing to hear you out and more than happy to laugh at ourselves and situations," said Johnson.
And then there is the diversity of the Bafunny Bafunny line-up, something Johnson believes adds to the fun.
“We have a white guy, which is more than most comedy line-ups in South Africa has,” she quipped.
As for what audiences can expect from Johnson herself, the answer is refreshingly straightforward: raunchy, honest and sincere comedy from a woman in her 30s who, she says, is absolutely not bitter about having to move back in with her parents.
With that much comedic ammunition on one stage, Durban and Cape Town audiences may want to leave their serious faces at home.
Noah and Khoza were contacted for comment but did not reply.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za