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Entertainment Business: 12 Things You Didn’t Know About Loyiso Gola

Entertainment Business: 12 Things You Didn’t Know About Loyiso Gola

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Loyiso Gola’s “Late Nite News” is considered to be South Africa’s version of the U.S. hit comedy, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” South African comedian Gola has been on the comedy circuit for more than a decade, but it’s the TV show that launched him to South Africa’s top tier of comedians. The show continues to draw fans with its unique style of political commentary and mockery, and Gola’s star continues to rise. Here are 12 things you didn’t know about one of South Africa’s most exciting comedians, Loyiso Gola.

Sources: DailyMaverick.co.za, Facebook.com, JHBLive.co.za, ETV.co.za, StandUpPlanet.org

ChilliMag.co.za
ChilliMag.co.za

Gola is Xhosa

Gola was born in the Cape Town township of Gugulethu and is Xhosa. He lived in Gugulethu until the age of 14, when he moved to Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, to attend secondary school.

KayaFM.co.za
KayaFM.co.za

He was shy when he was younger

Gola was a self-admitted shy kid, and was very reserved before his foray into comedy. It wasn’t until a drama teacher introduced him to the Cape Comedy Collective at the age of 17 that he began to break out of his shell and develop his comedic persona.

ArtLink.co.za
ArtLink.co.za

He got detention for job-shadowing comics while in school

When he was in high school, Gola spent a week shadowing comics such as Riaad Moosa and Stuart Taylor as a part of his school’s “drop shadow” program to discover career opportunities. When he returned to school, his teachers didn’t consider comedy a proper career to shadow, and sentenced him to detention for not following the rules.

JustCurious.co.za
JustCurious.co.za

Gola was the youngest comic ever to perform at the Cape Town International Comedy Festival

In 2005 and 2006, Gola performed at the Cape Town International Comedy Festival, recognized as South Africa’s most prestigious comedy event. Age 22 at his first appearance, Gola was the youngest comic ever to perform at the international event.

24.co.za
24.co.za

He won a South African Comedy Award in 2007

Leading up to the presidential elections that ushered in President Jacob Zuma into office, Gola launched a one-man show titled, “Loyiso Gola for President,” using his now-signature brand of cynical political humor. The show was incredibly well received, and netted him the South African Comedy Award for Best Breakthrough Comedy Act.

BlueMercury.co.za
BlueMercury.co.za

Gola co-created “Late Nite News” with fellow comedian Kasigo Lediga

In 2010, Gola and Lediga created “Late Nite News,” with Gola as host. It was meant as a satirical series modeled on the U.S.’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” and has since achieved wide success. It was even nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series in 2013, though it didn’t win.

TheNewAge.co.za
TheNewAge.co.za

He prefers to develop material on the fly

Rather than sit down and develop new material, Gola prefers to let jokes come to him and write them down on an ever-present notepad. Often, jokes will come to him during a show and he’ll write them down afterwards. He doesn’t usually improvise — it’s not his style.

BP.Blogspot.com
BP.Blogspot.com

Gola has plenty of material

In an interview, Gola discussed how he is able to produce so many shows, as well as continue hosting his TV show. He said, “I have sooo much material. If I write a one-minute gag every day, that’s a one-hour show every two months.”

Source: DailyMaverick.co.za

EHowzit.com
EHowzit.com

South African politicians are largely supportive of Gola’s comedy

While “Late Nite News” often mocks and criticizes South Africa’s politicians, the vast majority of them take it in stride. Gola said that the upper brass even treat him like a rock star. However, Gola has admitted that Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, is not a big fan when it comes to being mocked.

ArtLink.co.za
ArtLink.co.za

Gola thinks South African comedians are on par with the rest of the world

In an interview, Gola said that while South Africa’s comedy scene is still in its early stages (“We are a new country man!”), it is on par with some of the bigger markets out there. “I think there are some acts who are level with the best in the world,” he said in an interview. “I think what we need to do is do more world gigs. We must travel more, even if you go to Zambia, go to the U.S., go to Hong Kong and see what connects us as a people and what makes us laugh. Even some of the best comedians in the world can’t crack that. It’s easier to do it visually with movies, but with stand-up?”

Source: JHBLive.com

TheNewAge.co.za
TheNewAge.co.za

He has international ambitions

Gola has begun to perform internationally, and it won’t be a surprise when it makes it big overseas as well. After returning from a stint in London, he said, “The U.K. is where you go to be a better actor. The U.S. is where you go to get famous.”

Source: DailyMaverick.co.za

NewsPoint.co.za
NewsPoint.co.za

His younger brother is also a comedian

Gola’s younger brother, Lazola Gola, is also a comedian. Lazola is becoming a regular on the Johannesburg comedy scene, having opened for many big-name acts including for his brother. Lazola has also worked as a writer and actor for “Late Nite News.”