ENTERTAINMENT
5 MINUTES WITH
Jason Goliath
BY VENECIA VALENTINE
In Mzansi, where load-shedding schedules are memorised better than birthdays and potholes have become part of the landscape, laughter is a survival skill. Few comedians embody this instinct better than Jason Goliath.
WHAT EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES IN SOUTH AFRICA INSPIRE YOUR MATERIAL THE MOST? Our ability to laugh at everyday struggles: potholes, load-shedding, water outages, and all the rest.
WHAT WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALISED COMEDY COULD BE A FULL-TIME CAREER FOR YOU? The first AWEdnesday Comedy Jam we ever did, back in October 2011, sold out. It was that monthly event that inspired us to start Goliath and Goliath.
WHAT’ S THE TOUGHEST CROWD YOU’ VE EVER PERFORMED FOR, AND WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU? Doing comedy at an open-air music festival between acts. Audiences are clearly there for the musician, so it feels like you are holding the crowd hostage.
WHAT’ S A JOKE OR STORY YOU THOUGHT WOULD KILL ON STAGE BUT COMPLETELY FLOPPED? When you’ re doing comedy at the Nando’ s Golf Day, don’ t joke about the consequences of ordering Extra Hot. Nobody laughed. I’ m sure they giggled in the car on their way home, though.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG COMEDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA TRYING TO BREAK INTO STAND-UP TODAY? It’ s not just about breaking through. Building a sustainable career is hard, and it takes time. Make sure you’ re doing it because you love making people laugh, not for the likes, the views, or the fame. It hits different.
HOW HAS THE COMEDY INDUSTRY EVOLVED WITH PODCASTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA? When I started in comedy, there were clear gatekeepers. They controlled access to TV, events, and brands. They decided who got seen and who didn’ t. Social media completely disrupted that. Now the power sits with the comedian. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts have opened up a different kind of connection. Audiences get to see more than just the punchlines; they see your thinking, your opinions, and your depth. IB
84 INBOUND SA / JUNE 2026