Award-winning South African comedian Trevor Noah says performing in his home country remains a special experience, particularly because of the diversity and depth of talent within the local comedy scene.
“Performing in SA always feels special, this time feels the same,” Noah said, reflecting on his return to South African audiences.
Noah has been leading a team of some of South Africa’s biggest comedy names, along with a few rising stars, as part of Bafunny Bafunny, billed as South Africa’s national comedy team.
Shows have taken place in Pretoria and Durban, and will wrap up at the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town on September 25 and 26.
Trevor Noah praises local talent
For Noah, comedy is often rooted in the experiences of performers, with topics ranging from politics and sport to everyday life. In South Africa, however, he believes the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity adds another dimension to the relationship between comedians and their audiences.
“Our genuine diversity; in most countries, something as simple as language is a non-factor as most people speak the same language.
“Here (in SA), everybody’s mother tongue is different. That alone creates an audience ready to laugh in many languages. It’s fun,” he said.
Noah said the different line-ups for the Bafunny Bafunny tour were curated for each city.
“Funny is the currency all comedians deal in, and we got some of the funniest,” he said.
He added that he believes South African comedians can compete with performers from anywhere in the world.
“SA comics are on par with all the world’s comedians. Funny is funny and South Africans are funny,” Noah said.
The comedian has regularly included local acts in his South African line-ups throughout his career. While the comedy industry has changed over the years, he said one thing has remained constant: new performers continue to enter the scene.
“I’ve been lucky enough to always have many acts on my SA lineups, and even though many things have changed, one thing that keeps happening is new funny people keep joining the scene,” he said.
Noah also credited Savanna for its contribution to the local comedy industry, particularly in the period following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Savanna has done an amazing job of supporting our industry, especially post-Covid, to keep talent working and new talent coming in,” he said.
For aspiring comedians, Noah believes there is no substitute for performing and making people laugh, while acknowledging that success can also depend on circumstances beyond an artist’s control.
“Being funny is what gets you noticed. Luck and timing also always play a big part of any success.
"All you can do is go out, make people laugh and be ready for any opportunities that come your way,” he said.
Rubushe on comedy and resilience
For Nonto Rubushe, better known as Nonto R, being part of Bafunny Bafunny has been 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.
Rubushe performed in the Durban leg on Saturday. 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 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.
"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.
taschica.pillay@nationalmg.co.za