Advice For Trevor Noah From The Jon Stewart Of South Africa

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South African comedian Loyiso Gola performed at The Orbit a club in Johannesburg in February. Joao Silva/The New York Times hide caption

itoggle caption Joao Silva/The New York Times

South African comedian Loyiso Gola performed at The Orbit a club in Johannesburg in February.

Joao Silva/The New York Times

This week Comedy Central announced that Jon Stewart's replacement on The Daily Show will be a South African comedian Trevor Noah. To get some perspective on this surprise decision we contacted Noah's colleague and friend Loyiso Gola a comedian who hosts Late Nite News his own satirical news program on South African television. Gola spoke to us by telephone as he rushed to the Johannesburg airport running late to catch a flight to New York where he is performing this weekend.

What was your first reaction to the news that Trevor Noah would be the new host of The Daily Show

I was pretty shocked shocked in a good way shocked at their foresight in being able to see that the only way the show can go forward is doing it with an international eye. It's next level thinking. But for me it was Wow I felt like someone had just landed on the moon for the first time. I was probably even more excited than Trevor ever could be.

You're on your way to New York to do some standup shows. What are the differences between doing comedy in South Africa and in America

I think comedy is comedy. I think we all go through the same experiences as human beings. If you're funny in Mongolia you can be funny in America. If you're funny in South Africa you're funny anywhere in the world. It takes just a little bit more explaining because of cultural differences but everyone goes through the same things. We all go through breakups we all are late for the airport. If you talk about subject matter that resonates with people that's comedy.

Is it easier to make fun of South African politicians than of Americans

There's no real difference they're just politicians and everyone screws up. We have way more in common than we have differences. Politicians are politicians. They're dodgy they do dodgy stuff. They get caught out they're embarrassed we hold them accountable. Then they weasel their way out. I think they're all weasels.

What are the challenges of being a comedian in South Africa With the difficult history of the country are there topics that are just too sensitive to make jokes about

Nah I think anything goes in South Africa. As a country we have a good sense of humor. You might offend someone but there's not a hectic backlash. We're learning gradually to laugh at ourselves. I just think it gets people talking. Actual racism is not funny when you talk about racism it's funny.

Note You can check out some of Gola's observations about race on YouTube but the language is definitely not suitable for the workplace.

Is Trevor's success in America a loss for South Africa

No no no. South Africa probably has the best comedians in the world. It's just that people don't know about them. Comedians are popping out of everywhere and I hope his success opens up doors for many acts to head out to America.

The idea that Trevor Noah's statue should replace the one of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town is trending. What do you think

If I was the president that's what I would do. We should just chop off Cecil Rhodes' head and replace it with Trevor's head on the statue. That's the most efficient way of doing the whole process. And then every time someone walks past he's gonna be like Damn Trevor used to dress real s back in the day.

What advice do you have for Trevor

First of all I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to absolutely kill it and take the show to another other other other level. The one thing that I would say is he must be himself because the thing that got him the show was him being himself. There's great value in what he does as himself and as a South African and as an African. That is the advice that I would give him and I think I'm going to text him with that advice as soon as I hang up.

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