South Africans are gearing up for a night of big laughs as Laughter is Culture prepares to take over GrandWest on 18 April, a comedy festival bringing together some of the country’s most recognisable and fast-rising comedic voices.
At the centre of it all is comedy veteran and industry pioneer David Kau, who has spent nearly three decades helping shape the South African comedy landscape from its early grassroots beginnings to the packed theatres and international recognition it enjoys today.
The festival boasts a strong lineup featuring Mpho Popps, Celeste Ntuli, Skhumba Hlophe, Trevor Gumbi, Dillan Oliphant and Chris Forest, among many others, a mix that reflects the depth, diversity and growing commercial strength of South African stand-up comedy.
For Kau, festival is more than just another comedy show; it’s a statement about where the industry is and where it’s headed. Backed by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the festival also reflects efforts to work more closely with government on cultural initiatives that promote inclusivity.
He says the local comedy scene has undergone a major transformation over the years, especially in how audiences are being drawn to comedians performing in their own languages and selling out their own shows.
“The biggest change has been that a lot of comedy is filling up venues now. All of Skhumba, Celeste, and Sfiso Nene are filling up their own venues, performing in their own languages and not necessarily English. And that has been the biggest change and the biggest revolution… It’s really come a long way.”
He draws a clear link between the global rise of South African music and what is now happening in comedy.
“So if you look at Amapiano and how the world is looking at us now… you’ve got the same thing happening with comedy. The right people are starting to look at South African comedy and culture, and they’re discovering comedians here who can break out internationally. So there’s a bit of luck and timing there.”
At its heart, Kau says comedy remains rooted in one simple mission, making people laugh.
“What has always been important is making people laugh… that comes before I become a social commentator or want to make a statement. We’re all going through problems already. There’s already commentary everywhere. The question is, where's the funny part? That’s what we look at.”
He adds that in a country weighed down by political headlines and constant reports of corruption, comedy plays a crucial escape role for audiences.
“Every single day the country can feel so depressive sometimes… So our job is to find the funny part in all of this. There’s always something funny somewhere down the line. Even in the midst of darkness, there’s humour that comes through, and that’s what we bring into the shows.”
Still, behind the laughs, Kau points to a serious challenge facing the industry, the lack of dedicated comedy clubs in South Africa.
“Believe it or not, there are still no comedy clubs in South Africa. All the ones we had closed down. So you can imagine how big the country is, but there are no comedy clubs where a new comedian can go and start and try out material.”
Instead, comedians are relying on pop-up shows in restaurants and bars, spaces that often disappear just as quickly as they emerge.
“There’s no consistency. Someone puts together a comedy night in a restaurant or bar, and a few months later it’s gone. Then it starts somewhere else. That’s how it works. But there’s no long-standing structure. So it’s tough to break into the industry.”
To help change that, Kau and other industry players are now focusing on building knowledge-sharing platforms and workshops to support emerging talent.
“We had a workshop yesterday in Joburg… where comedians spoke about their careers, promoters spoke about how to put shows together, and PR and media professionals shared insight. We’re trying to create smaller conferences where people can understand the business side of comedy, how to get in and how to stay in it.”
As Laughter is Culture approaches, the festival stands not only as a night of entertainment but also as a snapshot of an industry in transition, one that is expanding, evolving, and still finding new ways to turn everyday South African life into laughter.
Saturday Star
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