In business there is a concept known as a next-generation business. This ultimately means it is a business geared towards an emerging market with a slightly different set of rules that look set to dominate in the future. In the entertainment business finding a true entertainer and artist is uncommon, but finding a next generation entertainer is a rarity, until now.
In 2001 a large urban youth publication reviewed a comedy showcase in Cape Town. It spoke about the growing comedy movement at the time and mentioned the names of now-known comedians Kagiso Lediga and Tshepo Mogale. In one line it also mentioned a 17-year-old comedian by the name of Loyiso Gola about whom, the reviewer said, ‘ watch out for this young talent, he is going places”.
It is 2007 and Loyiso Gola has just wrapped an all-day shoot for a new sitcom/talkshow called Dinner with the President, which sees him star with Peter Dirk-Uys’s alter-ego, Evita Bezuidenhout. In the show Loyiso plays Evita’s grandson who is always present when she has people over for dinner. One would suspect that Gola would be typecast as the black sidekick, but he confidently clarifies that this is not the case.
‘I’m having fun, I have my own voice and even though I don’t do or say much in the beginning, I’m allowed to become myself as the series progresses.”
Gola says he admires Uys’s work ethic and creativity. ‘He has a strong work ethic and so do I; I just think that our work styles and perception of funny things is quite different. It’s great to work with him though.”
As one spends time with Gola, it becomes clear that it would be difficult for the show’s producers to gag him or attempt to keep him restrained, as his presence and persona are ironically reflected in his height. This six-foot-something comedian simply stands out.
At the time of this interview, Loyiso is preparing for the second instalment of his one-man show, Loyiso Gola for President at the Victory Theatre in Braamfontein. Observing him in rehearsal offers insight and provides a deeper appreciation for his artistry. It becomes clear that being funny is a serious business; almost every gag in his show is planned. The test site for his material recently became the Blues Room in Sandton, where he shares the stage with his peers and people he appreciates and who inspire him.
‘Performing my material to a live audience is the only way to test if it is funny. Then when you have a platform, such as the Tuesday night comedy at the Blues Room, you can hone and perfect the gags and try them differently on different people.”
Loyiso shares the Blues Room stage with Trevor Noah, Joey Rasdien, David Kibuka, Tshepo Mogale and Kagiso Lediga, among others. It was Lediga who gave him his first break and allowed him to perform at the Armchair Theatre in Cape Town.
‘Kags is on some next-level shit and that’s what I like about him, besides the fact that he gave me my first break, ‘coz I’m on that next-level shit, not because I want to be, but because I am.”
A common misunderstanding about Gola is that he is rude and arrogant. It is a perception he is aware of. ‘I guess I know where it comes from and I understand it because people don’t understand me and don’t take the time to try to understand me. But hey, that’s cool.”
The truth is that Gola’s humour lies in a place between how the world perceives him and how he perceives the world. ‘I’m a simple guy and I use logic to analyse things.”
His inspiration lies not in individuals, but in movements and events. ‘I look at the United States hip-hop industry and I’m inspired by that. Ten years ago you’d only find a 2pac and Notorious BIG on the shelf; now everyone wants a hip-hop producer or rapper on their pop and R&B album, even the rock kats.”
Other events — such as winning the Rugby World Cup, gaining independence in 1994, or any time there is transformation or evolution — inspire him.
When trying to place Gola ideologically, he tries to simplify things. ‘My ideology is not absolute and I am open to change. I don’t think that ideals can be absolute because we evolve and things change all the time. So I take from different sources, different people, different experiences.”
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Loyiso is that he is a calm dude. ‘Violence is always a last resort. So if anyone sees me slapping a guy, he really pissed me off and probably deserves the slap.”
To add to that, he differentiates between success as a human being and success in his career. As a human being, he maintains he is fairly successful, treating people well, helping others and so on. As far as his career is concerned, it is only the beginning, despite a list of accomplishments.
At 23 his six-year career has seen him host the 2003 Metro FM Music Awards and the 2004 South African Music Awards, the show with Peter Dirk-Uys and now his one-man show, among many others.
Loyiso has been wearing his producer hat of late too and plans to do a five-day comedy festival with Noah from December 11 to 14 at the Market Theatre with comedians from around the country. He will tour Loyiso Gola for President and plans to go to New York for a month next year to hone his stand-up routine. ‘I’m not trying to be discovered, I just want to do stand-up and be good at it. If I was a soccer player, I’d want to go play in Spain or somewhere in Europe to be a better player, but I’m a comedian, so I want to go to New York to do stand-up.”
Loyiso Gola for President is on at the Alexander Theatre, Siemens Street, Braamfontein, until December 1.