Trevor in town for comedy fest

Stand-Up comedian and new Daily Show host Trevor Noah on a visit back to South Africa for the Comedy Central festival hosted at Silverstar Casino on Wednesday. Picture: Dumisani Dube

Stand-Up comedian and new Daily Show host Trevor Noah on a visit back to South Africa for the Comedy Central festival hosted at Silverstar Casino on Wednesday. Picture: Dumisani Dube

Published Nov 26, 2015

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THE RED carpet for Trevor Noah’s opening night at the International Comedy Festival teemed with South African comedians, Comedy Central execs and a couple of shrubs.

While the shrubs, who refused interviews because they are shrubs, entertained red carpet goers with their antics, both the comedians and executives celebrated the opening night as the beginning of big things to come for African comedy.

Alex Okosi, senior vice-president for Viacom, the parent company of Comedy Central, acknowledged the representation from across Africa in the line-up for the 60-comedian festival.

“I think people will get to recognise the amazing talent we have on the continent,” he said.

Evert van der Veer, head of Comedy Central in Africa, said that they’d been dreaming of starting an international festival on the continent since Comedy Central Africa launched in 2011.

“I can’t really believe I’m standing here,” he said.

He echoed Okosi’s excitement for the potential exposure for African comedians.

“There is a lot of good comedy in South Africa,” Van der Veer said. “I don’t think the world knows.”

 

#CCIComedyFest😂😂😂😂😂🔥🔥🔥🔥 #TrevorNoah pic.twitter.com/hcYABbOPWC

— Comedy Central AF (@ComedyCentralAF) November 25, 2015

 

John Vlismas, one of the comedians performing later in the week, had nothing but compliments for the line-up Comedy Central has chosen. He saw this as a pivotal moment for local comedy.

He called Noah the “tactical boom” that could draw attention to South Africa.

“It’s letting the comedy world know to come here,” Vlismas said. “People haven’t thought of it.”

Tickets are still on sale at Computicket for shows happening later in the festival.

 

#ccicomedyfest Trevor Noah's everywhere!! @comedycentralaf #TwitterMirror @Devi_SG pic.twitter.com/1unlfOeHe5

— Comedy Central AF (@ComedyCentralAF) November 25, 2015

 

#ccicomedyfest @comedycentralaf now watch me whip now watch me Nae Nae... #TwitterMirror @bhelez @deepfriedman pic.twitter.com/zYah3HdElc

— Comedy Central AF (@ComedyCentralAF) November 25, 2015

 

— Comedy Central AF (@ComedyCentralAF) November 25, 2015

 

  

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