{
  "id": 6148223,
  "title": "Savanna Serves Bafunny Bafunny: South Africa’s Festival of Comedy kicks off on a high",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/savanna-serves-bafunny-bafunny-south-africas-festival-of-comedy-kicks",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T15:58:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/entertainment/savanna-serves-bafunny-bafunny-south-africas-festival-of-comedy-kicks-off-on-a-high/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Laughter was the sign of a successful comedy show, and Savanna Serves Bafunny Bafunny started off with a bang. The Festival of Comedy, South Africa's annual celebration of the art form, kicked off at SunBet Arena in Pretoria on September 4 and 5. Established and emerging comedians gathered for an evening of non-stop laughter, from the opening act to the final performance. The program was a diverse mix of styles and perspectives, with each comedian bringing their own unique approach to the stage. The energy remained high throughout, thanks to comedian and actor Eugene Khoza, who served as MC for the evening and kept the audience engaged with his own brand of humor. Among the performers were Thabiso Mhlongo, Mbali Gudazi, Lindy Johnson, Panch Gasela, and international comedian Learnmore Jonasi. The festival's biggest draw was Trevor Noah, the world-renowned comedian who closed off the show, drawing on his experiences living in America while still incorporating his South African roots into his set. Savanna Premium Cider's involvement in comedy was a natural extension of its brand identity, according to brand manager Nipho Shongwe. \"Comedy has been part of our DNA for the past 30 years,\" Shongwe said. The partnership is about more than just attaching the Savanna name to comedy events; it's about creating platforms for South African comedians to be \"seen, discovered, celebrated, and to thrive through growth.\" Shongwe emphasized that humor connects people regardless of background, experience, beliefs, or culture. The event aimed to honor emerging comedians and established legends, providing a stage for both groups to share their work and find an audience. After Pretoria, the festival moved to Durban on September 19 at Suncoast, followed by Cape Town shows at GrandWest on September 25 and 26.",
  "summary": "The show kicked off at SunBet Arena in Pretoria over the weekend, on 4 and 5 September.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-09-07T09:53:04.000Z"
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      {
        "outlet": "Mail and Guardian",
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/empowering-south-africas-youth-why-voting-is-a-money-smart-economic",
        "published": "2026-09-07T10:55:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "All Blacks star Lima Sopoaga reveals how South Africa left a lasting mark on him",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/all-blacks-star-lima-sopoaga-reveals-how-south-africa-left-a-lasting",
        "published": "2026-09-07T13:14:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}