Akasombo
Showmax will host its second Laugh Africa Comedy Festival this May 2025 and promises it to be bigger, louder, and filled with an unstoppable wave of comedic talent than before. While last year was an entertaining success, Showmax promises another incredible comedy festival experience this time around!
Eddie Griffin’s electric performance at this year’s 2024 edition left audiences breathless, virtually reinvigorating Johannesburg’s entertainment scene.
2025 is raising the stakes, widening its reach, and amplifying laughter with an outstanding lineup that boasts some of Africa’s greatest comedic minds–plus some international surprises!
A Strong Lineup
This year’s festival features many of South African comedy royalty such as Felix Hlophe, Trevor Gumbi, Eugene Khoza, Celeste Ntuli, Nina Hastie, Angel Campey, Allan Committie, Rob Van Vuuren, Jam Jam the Comedian Kagiso ‘KG’ Mokgadi Mark Banks Nonto R and Robbie Collins to name but a few.
But that’s not all – international acts including Griff from the USA, Salvado Ombokolo from Uganda, and Eric Lu Savali from Kenya will join South African audiences to bring their unique brand of humor.
Eddie Griffin performed internationally as the 2024 headline act, yet no details about their follow-up act are currently known. With speculation rampant and anticipation mounting, there has been much speculation and buzz regarding this year’s performance by an international act.
Experience Unfiltered Laughter this Weekend
From May 2nd through 4th, Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre–renowned for its glamour, business, and entertainment offerings–will become comedy’s ultimate stage.
This three-day festival promises an unprecedented three days of laughter, featuring two international headlining acts, an epic roast of an unknown media personality (like Minnie Dlamini last year!), as well as performances that span various comedic styles.
Fans can expect their favourite comedians and fresh new acts, all while celebrating Africa’s comedic diversity. With an emphasis on African talent, this festival aims to gather all its finest and brightest together under one roof and share stories, voices, cultural nuances, and laughter as its common language.
Festival Deserving of Awards
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival’s nomination as Best Comedy Festival/Show at the 12th Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards puts any doubt about its impact to rest.
Showmax capitalized on the festival’s success in 2024 by creating a 13-episode comedy series, which combined electrifying performances with behind-the-scenes antics.
It was an enormously successful event, confirming its place as one of South Africa’s premier comedy events.
Comedy with a Global Reach
Stuart Taylor, the festival’s Creative Director, is crystal clear on their vision: bigger, bolder, and funnier. After last year’s amazing success of their festival, they knew they needed to come back even bigger, bolder, and funnier in 2018. “After last year’s incredible festival success, we knew we had to expand even further this time around – making sure it will bring people back again with more laughter!”
This year, we are broadening our search, inviting some of the top comedic talent from Africa for a celebration of laughter that spans continents.
From household names to rising stars, the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival promises to be a powerful celebration of humor that unites us all.
But this festival is more than a comedy show: it represents African comedy across borders with standout acts from Uganda like Salvado Ombokolo and Kenya like Eric Lu Savali as part of its roster of talent.
Ombokolo’s insightful takes on everyday life and cultural oddities have earned him one of Africa’s highest accolades as a comedian, while Lu Savali’s quick wit and fearless punchlines have established him as one of East Africa’s finest acts.
Together, they bring an energetic blend of satire, personal experience, and social commentary. Tracy-Ann Van Rooyen of MultiChoice sees this festival not as just another festival but as part of an ongoing movement.
“Last year’s festival and Showmax’s 13-part comedy series proved that African audiences have an insatiable thirst for homegrown humor. At Showmax, we are honored to support and showcase such extraordinary talent across Africa, providing even more laughter to viewers of our programming. Comedy can bring people together; this year’s Laugh Africa Comedy Festival promises even bigger moments, unforgettable performances, and plenty of reasons to laugh!”
2025 Laugh Africa Comedy Festival promises to be Africa’s greatest comedy event, offering unfiltered humor from an all-star lineup and growing reputation as Africa’s premier comedy event. All that remains is for us to ask: who’s up for laughing until it hurts?
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