Legendary comedian David Kau has 20 years' experience and needs no introduction. When a conversation is started about black people who made stand-up comedy fashionable, David's name pops up.
When another is sparked about who put some of the black comedians on the map and gave others a launching pad, again David's name is mentioned alongside others who were brave enough to venture into new territory when it was not popular to do so.
Reflecting on the comedy industry, he told TshisaLIVE he had to fork out his own money to present his popular show.
“If you think of comedy in South Africa, especially black comedy, I had to spend my money to start Blacks Only, Comedy Blackout before that. Myself and Kagiso didn't get a salary to make the Pure Monate show but we paid everybody else — the comedians, writers and crew. So there has always been a lack of money, whether its Arts and Culture or sponsors. I've never really been a person to wait for government or anyone for that matter. Everything I've done I've thrown whatever I had at it.”
His 19th Blacks Only comedy show will take place at The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg on October 7.
The line-up for this year's event includes rising star and television personality Tats Nkonzo, legendary comedian Marc Lottering and Celeste Ntuli.
Mojak Lehoko, Mo Mathebe, Thapelo King Flat Mametja and Alan Committie are also part of the line-up.
“When we did So You Think You're Funny we were sponsored for two seasons. We have ten or nine in the top 20 comedians in the country. All of them are from So You Think You're Funny. From Mpho Popps to Celeste, Thabelo Tips, Tats Nkonzo, Sfiso Nene, all these guys come from an idea we had and then there was some sponsor at least to put it on TV or to at least get these guys out there.”
David said should he get funding he planned on giving more black comedians a platform to showcase their talent.
“Honestly, whenever I have money again I can multiply the number of black South African comedians that are making a living from stand-up comedy. I mean SABC has done their best. They don't have the resources that private stations have like Showmax, Netflix, your Amazons. But I don't think they approach this the right way. You come into a country like this you need to go and ask 'what's the biggest comedy show?', 'who are the biggest comedians here?', 'can we do something with you guys?', but that didn't happen. There's a lot of people who can make a difference but you know television and agents, and managers it's a totally different relationship, half the time they have no clue what they are doing.”
Event Details
Date: October 7
Time: Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.
Venue: Montecasino, Johannesburg
Tickets available at Ticketpro.co.za
'Half the time they have no clue what they are doing' — David Kau on the comedy industry
Image: Allistair Russell
Legendary comedian David Kau has 20 years' experience and needs no introduction. When a conversation is started about black people who made stand-up comedy fashionable, David's name pops up.
When another is sparked about who put some of the black comedians on the map and gave others a launching pad, again David's name is mentioned alongside others who were brave enough to venture into new territory when it was not popular to do so.
Reflecting on the comedy industry, he told TshisaLIVE he had to fork out his own money to present his popular show.
“If you think of comedy in South Africa, especially black comedy, I had to spend my money to start Blacks Only, Comedy Blackout before that. Myself and Kagiso didn't get a salary to make the Pure Monate show but we paid everybody else — the comedians, writers and crew. So there has always been a lack of money, whether its Arts and Culture or sponsors. I've never really been a person to wait for government or anyone for that matter. Everything I've done I've thrown whatever I had at it.”
His 19th Blacks Only comedy show will take place at The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg on October 7.
The line-up for this year's event includes rising star and television personality Tats Nkonzo, legendary comedian Marc Lottering and Celeste Ntuli.
Mojak Lehoko, Mo Mathebe, Thapelo King Flat Mametja and Alan Committie are also part of the line-up.
“When we did So You Think You're Funny we were sponsored for two seasons. We have ten or nine in the top 20 comedians in the country. All of them are from So You Think You're Funny. From Mpho Popps to Celeste, Thabelo Tips, Tats Nkonzo, Sfiso Nene, all these guys come from an idea we had and then there was some sponsor at least to put it on TV or to at least get these guys out there.”
David said should he get funding he planned on giving more black comedians a platform to showcase their talent.
“Honestly, whenever I have money again I can multiply the number of black South African comedians that are making a living from stand-up comedy. I mean SABC has done their best. They don't have the resources that private stations have like Showmax, Netflix, your Amazons. But I don't think they approach this the right way. You come into a country like this you need to go and ask 'what's the biggest comedy show?', 'who are the biggest comedians here?', 'can we do something with you guys?', but that didn't happen. There's a lot of people who can make a difference but you know television and agents, and managers it's a totally different relationship, half the time they have no clue what they are doing.”
Event Details
Date: October 7
Time: Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.
Venue: Montecasino, Johannesburg
Tickets available at Ticketpro.co.za
READ MORE :
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David Kau’s ‘Blacks Only Comedy’ show back for the 19th year
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