South Africa’s top comedians take to the stage in season two of Laugh in Your Language

Following the side-splitting success of last year’s Laugh in Your Language comedy showcase, South Africa’s top comedians took to the stage again to tell jokes that had audiences crying with laughter, grimacing in disbelief and hiding under tables to avoid being picked on at the Goliath Comedy Club in Melrose Arch when the show was recorded earlier this month.

The second season of Laugh in Your Language broadcast in partnership with Orbit features comedic stalwarts Joey Rasdien, Barry Hilton, Tumi Morake, Mashabela Galane, Rob Van Vuuren, Bennie Fourie, Cobus van Rensburg, Virgil Prins, Neil Green, Sne Dladla, Muzi Dlamini and Elton Mduduzi.

The season will kick start with a topical and entertaining Election Special, featuring all languages. Rasdien emceed the Afrikaans show which featured Fourie, Van Rensburg and Prins. Green introduced the English programme, featuring Hilton, Van Vuuren and Dladla; while Galane presented the vernacular edition starring Morake, Dlamini and Mduduzi.

Dillon Khan, vice president of Comedy Central and creative services at Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa), said comedy was a valuable aspect of people’s lives because it brings humour to sombre situations, lifts society’s spirits and makes commentary on important social and political issues.

“At Comedy Central, we are trying to represent the entire country with all its different languages and amazing diversity, and Laugh in Your Language is a platform to showcase the wide range of talent we have,” said Khan.

Galane said it was important for local acts to perform in their own language to reach broader audiences who love comedy.

 “Stand-up comedy is a great space to be in because it allows comedians to touch on so many different topics and encourage conversations on the economy, politics and society. To be able to make people laugh, especially in their mother tongue, is an incredible talent to have, and we plan on nurturing it by supporting the narrative in Africa and promoting our local comedians,” Khan said.

Mars Confectionery senior brand manager, Ashleigh Sanderson, said Orbit was thrilled to partner with Comedy Central as the official sponsor for the show.

 “We are huge supporters of the South African entertainment industry and this union was a no-brainer for us, as we love to give everyone that extra bit of confidence when it’s their time to shine. All comedians on the international programme can rest assured in the knowledge that Orbit is with them all the way, providing them with a little extra freshness as they handle the more important task of making the audience laugh,” Sanderson said.

The second season of Laugh in Your Language returns to Comedy Central this Friday, 3 May