The South African comedian’s Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series garnered praise from President Cyril Ramaphosa. 



Renowned South African comedian Trevor Noah has etched his name in history with a prestigious Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah this week. This significant win at the 75th Annual Emmy Awards highlights Noah&#8217;s influential presence in the global entertainment sphere and underscores the impact of South African talent on the international stage.



In a category brimming with talent, Noah&#8217;s victory over eminent late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Stephen Colbert underlines his distinct voice in the variety talk series landscape. This Emmy is his first in the Outstanding Talk Series category, adding to his 2017 win for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series and illustrating his consistent prowess in the industry.



President Cyril Ramaphosa extended warm congratulations to Noah in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, recognizing his role as a global ambassador of South African talent. &#8220;Winning outstanding talk series in a very competitive scene is no laughing matter,&#8221; Ramaphosa stated, celebrating Noah&#8217;s contribution to showcasing South African excellence on the global front.



In his acceptance speech, Noah remarked, &#8220;I told you! I told you we would beat John Oliver if he wasn&#8217;t in our category. We did it!&#8221; He also expressed deep gratitude toward his team and offered special thanks to Jon Stewart, acknowledging Stewart&#8217;s role in his journey. &#8220;Thank you for calling me up and asking me to come join you on this crazy journey,&#8221; Noah said.



Reflecting on his most memorable episode, Noah mentioned “Trump and the African Dictator,&#8221; highlighting its significance in bringing African perspectives to American television. This episode, according to Noah, exemplified the groundbreaking nature of his work on the show.



Noah&#8217;s accolades extend beyond the Emmys. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Stand-Up Comedian in Television and is nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. Additionally, he is set to host the Grammy Awards for the fourth consecutive year, showcasing his versatility and appeal as a host and entertainer.



Despite his departure from The Daily Show in September 2022, Noah&#8217;s impact continues. The search for his permanent replacement on the show is ongoing.

75th Primetime Emmy Awards – Press Room

Emmy Wins And More Global Nominations For Trevor Noah A Celebration Of South African Talent

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Topline</h2>



Renowned South African artist, DJ and music producer Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as DJ Black Coffee, won his first-ever Grammy award at the 64th Grammy Awards in Las Vegas last night. Also representing Africa was Beninese singer-songwriter, Angélique Kidjo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



After being postponed once again, the 64th Grammy Awards was held as an in-person event on April 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. For a second year in a row, the awards show was hosted by South African comedian and The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah.



Maphumulo took home his first Grammy in the category Best Dance/Electronic Album for his studio album Subconsciously. The artist was up against other big names in electronic music like Major Lazer, Marshmello and Ten City, just to name a few.



In his acceptance speech, Maphumulo said that he was grateful for God, his fans and his family for believing in him.



&#8220;I want to thank God for the gift of music and being able to share it with the world and heal souls and help people go through whatever they&#8217;re going through in life,&#8221; he said.



Angélique Kidjo took home her fifth-ever Grammy award last night when she won Best Global Music Album for her album Mother Nature. The renowned singer went up against Nigerian artists, Wizkid (Deluxe) and Femi Kuti and Ghanian singer/songwriter Rocky Dawuni.



The artist practically ran to the stage last night to give her acceptance speech starting with “Oh my God!”



“This award was made possible when Grammy said that young musicians from Africa are going to take the world by storm and I am going to take my time to thank them,” she said in her speech thanking artists like Burna Boy and Mr Eazi, to name a few.



“And all of you fans out there that are music-lovers that are always there when we needed you to just listen… And from that point we move forward, we are all Africans,” said Kidjo, who in March was also the recipient of the 2022 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Entertainer Award.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Big Wins *Winners according to the Recording Acadamy: Grammy Award.</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Record Of The Year</h3>



· “I Still Have Faith In You,” ABBA



· “Freedom,” Jon Batiste



· “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett



· “Peaches,” Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon



· “Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile



· “Kiss Me More,” Doja Kat feat. SZA



· “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish



· “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X



· “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo



· WINNER: “Leave The Door Open,” Silk Sonic



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Album Of The Year</h3>



· WINNER: We Are-Jon Batiste



· Love For Sale- Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga



· Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)-Justin Bieber



· Planet Her (Deluxe)-Doja Cat



· Happier Than Ever-Billie Eilish



· Back Of My Mind-H.E.R.



· Montero- Lil Nas X



· Sour- Olivia Rodrigo



· Evermore-Taylor Swift



· Donda-Kanye West



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Song Of The Year:</h3>



· “Bad Habits,” Ed Sheeran



· “A Beautiful Noise,” Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile



· “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo



· “Fight For You,” H.E.R.



· “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish



· “Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat feat. SZA



· WINNER: “Leave The Door Open,” Silk Sonic



· “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X



· “Peaches,” Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar and Giveon



· “Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best New Artist:</h3>



· Aarook Aftab



· Jimmie Allen



· Baby Keem



· Finneas



· Glass Animals



· Japanese Breakfast



· The Kid Laroi



· Arlo Parks



· WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo



· Saweetie



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Pop Solo Performance:</h3>



· “Anyone,” Justin Bieber



· “Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile



· “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish



· “Positions,” Ariana Grande



· WINNER: “Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:</h3>



· “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett



· “Lonely,” Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco



· “Butter,” BTS



· “Higher Power,” Coldplay



· WINNER: “Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat feat. SZA



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:</h3>



· WINNER: Love For Sale- Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga



· ‘Til We Meet Again (Live)- Norah Jones,



· A Tori Kelly Christmas- Tori Kelly



· Ledisi Sings Nina-Ledisi



· That’s Life-Willie Nelson



· A Holly Dolly Christmas- Dolly Parton



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Pop Vocal Album:</h3>



· Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)-Justin Bieber



· Planet Her (Deluxe)-Doja Cat



· Happier Than Ever-Billie Eilish



· Positions-Ariana Grande



· WINNER: Sour, Olivia Rodrigo



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">Surprising Fact</h2>



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise virtual appearance last night at the Grammys when he urged viewers to support the country in anyway possible. Zelensky made his speech before introducing a performance by John Legend dedicated to the country amid Russia’s invasion, according to Forbes.



“Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can’t hear them, but the music will break through anyway,” Zelenksy said. “We defend our freedom to live, to love, to sound.”

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The Biggest Night In Music Awards Two Of Africa’s Finest

jpeeeggg

THE 100th ISSUE: 100 Innovations, Inventions & Icons From Africa

Topline: Multi-award winning South African-born Comedian and The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, will be hosting arguably the biggest night in music at the 2021 63rd Grammy Awards at the end of January, the Recording Academy announced on Tuesday. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We’re thrilled to welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheDailyShow</a> host, Emmy-winner, and GRAMMY-nominee <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrevorNoah</a> as the host of the 63rd <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a>! We can’t think of a better person to serve as Master of Ceremonies for Music’s Biggest Night. 🎶 <a href="https://t.co/vbFqPbXfgl">pic.twitter.com/vbFqPbXfgl</a>&mdash; Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) <a href="https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad/status/1331233988535435265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Before the 2021 Grammy Nominations were announced, the Recording Academy announced that Grammy-nominated comedian, Noah, would be hosting the award ceremony that will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021.&nbsp;</li><li>This will be the first time Noah hosts the awards, which Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President and CEO of the Recording Academy say will be an unforgettable and incredible evening as Noah has a “knack for keeping viewers engaged and entertained.”&nbsp;</li><li>“Trevor&#8217;s comedy talents, engaging energy and unique perspective make him the perfect host for the Grammys,&#8221; said CBS Entertainment Group President and Chief Executive Officer George Cheeks added in a statement.&nbsp;</li><li>Noah’s “Son of Patricia” scored a Grammy nomination in 2019 for his comedy album. However, the award ended up going to Dave Chappelle’s “Sticks &amp; Stones.”&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h3>



&#8220;Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the Grammys have refused to have me sing or be nominated for Best Pop Album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,&#8221; Noah said in a statement on Tuesday. &#8220;I think as a one-time Grammy nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award! (This is a metaphorical shoulder, I&#8217;m not trying to catch Corona). See you at the 63rd Grammys!&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In a year that most human beings would love to forget, there has been one constant force that has brought us together &#8211; Music. I’m truly honoured to be hosting The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GRAMMYs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GRAMMYs</a>, a night celebrating all of our favourite artists who’ve helped keep us sane while we’re all stuck indoors! <a href="https://t.co/rmFuBjWeJk">pic.twitter.com/rmFuBjWeJk</a>&mdash; Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah/status/1331301131906117637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading </h3>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielshapiro/2019/08/16/the-highest-earning-stand-up-comedians-of-2019/?sh=7f9f9c4842fa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Highest-Earning Stand-Up Comedians Of 2019 (FORBES</a>



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/08/20/trevor-noah-is-laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank/">Trevor Noah Is Laughing All The Way To The Bank (FORBES AFRICA)&nbsp;</a>

62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards – Show

Trevor Noah Announced As Host For 2021 GRAMMYs

South African Comedian Trevor Noah Is The Fourth Highest Paid Comedian In The World. Here&#8217;s how he did it.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



With earnings of a staggering $28 million Trevor Noah has become the
fourth highest paid comedian in the world.



According to Forbes the Daily Show host, “earned
the bulk of his income this year through stand-up, making him eligible for our
list”.



Forbes’ methodology is using all earnings estimated from June 1, 2018 to June 1, 2019. 



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/08/14/burna-boy-the-african-giants-debuts-on-the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Burna Boy’s The African Giant Debuts On The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (opens in a new tab)">Burna Boy’s The African Giant Debuts On The Daily Show With Trevor Noah</a>



“Figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not
deducted. Earnings estimates are based on data from Pollstar Pro as well as
interviews with industry insiders,” they said.



He is signed to host the Daily Show until 2022.



On the show, Noah usually sits down with the biggest headline-grabbers
in politics and entertainment.



Noah also covers the biggest news stories in politics, pop culture and
more.



Recently he trended after devising a viral conspiracy theory that
President Donald Trump is targeting first lady Melania Trump with his
immigration policies.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Is Donald Trump trying to deport Melania? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontDeportMelania?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DontDeportMelania</a> <a href="https://t.co/aWoNOErfbV">pic.twitter.com/aWoNOErfbV</a>&mdash; The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1161811745792544770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The Daily Show with Trevor Noah currently has over 5,3 million
subscribers on YouTube alone and has had 1,9 billion views.



But apart from the show, the South African born comedian made more than
70 stops across the world and had his second Netflix special last fall.



His book Born A Crime, published in 2016, is still ranked as No.1 on the New York Times’ bestseller list for paperback nonfiction.



Africans across the globe celebrated Noah’s listing on social media with
some expressing how inspired they are by him.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Trevornoah</a> is officially the 4th highest paid Comedian in the world, and he’s African &#8230; Oh lord, if this doesn’t inspire me .. I don’t know what will.. do you know he can sponsor himself to do an East African comedy tour .. and even pay the organizers of the shows 😂😂😂&mdash; Patrick Salvado 👑 (@idringp) <a href="https://twitter.com/idringp/status/1163733016382005249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Izinja Madoda!!! Crazy shit!!! Inspiring!!! <a href="https://t.co/kPw44muRLp">https://t.co/kPw44muRLp</a>&mdash; Don Billiato (@casspernyovest) <a href="https://twitter.com/casspernyovest/status/1163521956156772352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is really a big deal! We are proud of you <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Trevornoah</a>&mdash; yourpartycupsng (@yourpartycups) <a href="https://twitter.com/yourpartycups/status/1163716145863626753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



On the Forbes list, Noah follows after Jim Gaffigan earning $30 million,
Jerry Seinfeld earning $41 million and Kevin Hart being the highest earner with
$59 million.



On the top ten list the only woman on the list is Amy Schumer at the
seventh spot with $21 million.

gettyimages-1131916034-594×594

Trevor Noah Is Laughing All The Way To The Bank

What happens when one of Africa’s global comedians meets an African global recording artist? African greatness, that’s what. Burna boy was interviewed on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, making it a proud moment for Africans world wide.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



South African born comedian Trevor Noah hosted Nigeria’s singer and song writer, Burna Boy on The Daily Show on Tuesday night.



Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy spoke about his recipe for Afro-fusion
music, performing at Coachella and producing his album African Giant.



In a video released showing behind the scenes footage, Trevor Noah
expressed his love for Nigeria.



“That’s the one thing I’ve always loved about Nigeria; it’s the love of
Nigeria from Nigeria. If every African could have that, ‘we love our thing’,”
Trevor refers to the zeal Nigeria has about their talent.



While at the show Burna Boy performed a medley of songs Ye and &nbsp;Anybody.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Watch my brother <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevornoah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Trevornoah</a> and I on the daily show tonight @ 11pm EDT <a href="https://t.co/n1GFX5CeUJ">pic.twitter.com/n1GFX5CeUJ</a>&mdash; Burna Boy (@burnaboy) <a href="https://twitter.com/burnaboy/status/1161448269492494336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Burna Boy who is one of this year’s <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-creatives-category-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Forbes Africa 30 under 30 (opens in a new tab)">Forbes Africa 30 under 30</a> list makers made waves recently after releasing his much anticipated album earlier this year.



The album was released in July and includes hit songs like African Giant, Dangote, Spiritiual, and international
artists like Jeremih, Future, Damian Marley and Jorja Smith.



In the album categorized as afrobeats has some Fela Kuti influences, he
asserts himself as an African and conveys the message of how Africa should not
be marginalized.



“I am an AFRICAN GIANT and will not be reduced to whatever that tiny writing means,” he wrote on Instagram.



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="2010 all over again: a musical extravaganza to honor Nelson Mandela (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/02/11/2010-all-over-again-a-musical-extravaganza-to-honor-nelson-mandela/" target="_blank">2010 all over again: a musical extravaganza to honor Nelson Mandela</a>



The album was released a month after he won the BET Award for the Best
International Act at the end of June.



Already garnering thousands of listeners and viewers on platforms such
as YouTube and Apple Music, Burna Boy has teamed up with Spotify to launch Burna Bank.



Inspired by the artwork for the African Giant album, Burna Bank is, “the
installation features a unique ATM which will be dispensing custom, collectible
bills designed by Sajjad Musa. 



Each bill is inspired by Burna’s Nigerian roots, and his quest to call
out corruption and the disproportionate distribution of wealth.”



The Burna Bank is an ATM that distributes these notes and launches this
week making him one of the first African musicians to have his own currency.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Peak <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfricanGiant?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfricanGiant</a> levels: having your own currency 🔥. Check out <a href="https://twitter.com/burnaboy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BurnaBoy</a>’s ATM this week in NYC and RSVP to the launch right here: <a href="https://t.co/zkOJNWfIRr">https://t.co/zkOJNWfIRr</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BurnaBank?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BurnaBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/uaJCJgotjI">pic.twitter.com/uaJCJgotjI</a>&mdash; Spotify (@Spotify) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spotify/status/1161046142924328961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Another one of his wins this year was recording a song with Grammy award
winner Beyoncé, in a single titled Ja Ara
E as part of her The Lion King:The King
Album.



Burna Boy continues to prove he is a force to be reckoned with as an
African giant and continues to put the continent on the map.

gettyimages-1151904856-594×594

Burna Boy’s The African Giant Debuts On The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

When a veteran American comedian and actor Jon Stewart retired as the anchor of The Daily Show late in 2015, after 16 years at the helm, his producers scrambled to offer the job to everyone from Chris Rock to Amy Schumer. They settled on the fresh face from South Africa, with an unusual accent, to dissect and satirize the complex United States political scene as it heads for this year’s elections.
Months before the first show went to air, on September 28, American journalists were skeptical. They didn’t believe Trevor Noah could fill Stewart’s shoes in a show that once captured 3.57 million viewers when Barack Obama breezed through on the cusp of his 2008 election victory.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4935" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Trev-226x300.jpg" alt="" width="226" height="300" />
Bad reviews followed and Noah’s viewership has fallen compared to the days of Stewart. Seven months on, before a press gathering on set, to mark his 100th show, the 32-year-old from Soweto is unfazed.
“It makes sense to me, if my ratings weren’t down I would be offended on behalf of Jon Stewart. It would make sense that people are going to see the king on his way out, when you’re building a new legacy you need to do exactly that. That means building on a new legacy. Television as a whole is down in America. The biggest thing you have to acknowledge is that there are multiple streams of viewership that are happening now,” says Noah.
Despite the drop in popularity among American viewers – the Nielsen ratings report a 37% decline – it broadcasts to 170 countries, compared to 163 when Noah took over.
“These ratings aren’t disastrous, but considering that politics are the bread and butter of late night television, Noah’s numbers are disappointing. Given this preposterous election season, the material practically writes itself. In Jon Stewart’s 2011-2012 season, his nightly average was 1.7 million viewers,” says Hayley Cuccinello a New York-based TV critic.
The show also generates an average of 67 million monthly streams across digital platforms, in 2016, up 22% against 2015.
Noah says the rise of the web is changing people’s viewing habits as millennials switch from television to the internet. His critics agree that these millennials are supporting Noah.
“I like Trevor’s show, I think his take is unique and he is not necessarily copying Jon Stewart. He is kind of doing his own style, maybe a little bit more humorous and characterizations. He is inspired by Jon but he is not just doing imitation of him. The brand of The Daily Show itself is enough to get people interested, especially online, I think Trevor is doing a good thing with social media. I personally don’t watch it on TV a lot but watch it on Facebook and YouTube clips, so I think social media has helped him reach out to people, not necessarily on TV, he has to branch out on other outlets,” says 24-year-old Nader Salem, from New Jersey.
Indeed, the audience at Noah’s 100th show on April 28, in Manhattan, had many people from afar. There were a number of South Africans, supporting their own, including the South African Broadcasting Corporation correspondent in New York, Sherwin Bryce-Pease, and Sunday Times’ entertainment writer Azizzar Mosupi, who flew in for the show.
“We are SAA (South African Airways) employees. It is mandatory for every African in New York to make time for the show. We love Trevor. He is an inspiration to every African child. He is the living proof anything is possible,” says Zanda Setlaleleng.
“I watched Jon Stewart and I have been watching Trevor Noah as well, I didn’t realize today is the 100th show, I am glad I am here tonight. Trevor is very different from Jon but pretty great too. He has a very different view of things that I think people can learn from. I appreciate his sense of humor. Hundredth show on my birthday, there you go,” says Fiona Charlton, a visitor to New York from Britain.
On the night of the show, Noah ran to the stage, fired up, in a black tailored suit and tie. He made the house rules clear to the cheering audience: “This thing is like a sex tape – people watch to get off on seeing both people having a good time… So, you have to give me your all because I am going to give you mine.”
Noah prides himself in a diverse team of scriptwriters who advise him on issues of religion, nationality and gender.
“There’s nothing off limits, it’s just what are you trying to do with a joke. Even before The Daily Show I always liked jokes that bring people together, and jokes that build the nation. In South Africa I made jokes about the president, to his face, for many years. He knows me, people in Parliament know me. That never stopped me from engaging with them and them engaging with me. There’s an implicit understanding. The worst thing that can happen is when somebody takes your joke to hurt another person or group when you didn’t intend to do that.”
Noah stepped into the comedy scene through a dare. In the early 2000s, he was a regular at the comedy clubs in Johannesburg. One night the host called for newcomers to take the microphone, his drunk friends pushed Noah on stage.
That night, Noah slayed them in the aisles and never looked back. In a few years, he would become the country’s favorite comedian, playing to packed houses, and the host of Tonight With Trevor Noah on M-Net across Africa.
Noah says South Africa will always be home and he keeps tabs on the political scene. He is not eligible to vote in the US elections he comments on nightly, but on August 3 he will be one of many South Africans casting their vote at the embassy in New York for in the municipal elections back home.
“Over the years travelling, performing comedy all over the world and now doing The Daily Show, I have learned if you stay true to yourself and if you are proud of who you are and where you come from, that in itself becomes the mantle. I love telling jokes about South Africa and Africa, I will go for the disparaging comments that people think are stereotypes of the continent. I myself, in many ways, a complete juxtapose of what people think of the continent. I am a South African, you can smell it on me,” he says.
Noah grew up crammed into a small house in Soweto, where he shared a room with his stepbrothers and cousins where he peed in a bucket in the mornings. His mother, a Xhosa woman, had a child with his father, a Swiss-German, which was against the law in apartheid days. Noah recalls his mother had to dress like a domestic worker and his father had to walk on the other side of the street to avoid the attention of police on family outings.
“I was born a crime,” Noah often joked.
Whatever the ratings say, it is clear Noah intends to joke through the storm. As a fellow African in New York I put my money on him having the last laugh at the expense of his detractors.

“I Am A South African, You Can Smell It On Me”

Words like ‘cocky’, ‘arrogant” and ‘aloof’ come up a lot these days where Trevor Noah is concerned. But that said, any individual with a sense of impartiality would also agree that adjectives like ‘successful’, ‘funny’ and ‘charming’ do define him.
Born on February 20, 1984 in the most famous township in Africa—Soweto, he was the first-born son of a black African Xhosa woman and a father of Swiss origin. He will not be drawn too much into speaking about his father, but describes himself as having been a sheltered child who spent a lot of time indoors—his mother, who was to later remarry and have two more sons, gave him the freedom to decide what to do with his own life.
<div id="attachment_288" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-288" class="size-medium wp-image-288" src="/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/294-182_1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Comedian Trevor Noah, Johannesburg; 14 October 2011 &#8211; Photo by Brett Eloff</div>
“I never went to college, and I was never nagged about it like one would expect a Xhosa mother to,” he quips. “I believe university and all tertiary institutions are there to help people decide what career to go into, and I happened to be fortunate enough to have gone straight into work after I discovered that I really liked stand-up comedy and saw that as something I would definitely want to spend my life doing. It is such a cool form of expression,” he continues.
Earlier in 2011, Noah packed up and relocated to Los Angeles in a bid to conquer the world’s biggest comedy scene. So naturally, I asked him if, with this move to tinsel town in the United States, he was trying to be South Africa’s next Charlize Theron.
“Not at all,” he answers. “When I went over there, it was like working for the same company but moving to a different branch in a different city, just like taking a work transfer. I knew even before I booked my plane ticket that I already had gigs booked; I had an apartment waiting for me&#8230; so I was certainly not going there to try my luck. And I really wouldn’t recommend that anyone go to a new country to just see what happens,” he asserts.
By now my pop-culture comparison with Charlize Theron is starting to feel rather loose—anybody who has been in and around the entertainment industry of South Africa, and followed this young man’s career, knows that Noah has been steadily and successfully building his “brand”, and by the looks of things, making good money.
Noah isn’t keen on calling himself a “comedy businessman” or any kind of businessman, for that matter. In as much as he agrees that the business of comedy has boomed on the continent, especially during the last decade, he still insists that he wouldn’t go as far as honoring himself with that businessman tag.
“Entertainment and comedy have been around for as long as language has existed. People have been telling stories and making others laugh for centuries, long before someone decided to add the financial aspect to it. Business requires an awful lot of work, whereas entertaining people is probably the most organic, most natural thing out there,” explains the former actor and radio DJ.
Noah’s reluctance to align his craft too much with business is rather refreshing, seeing as there are few comics in South Africa who have enjoyed the success that he has. Noah has hosted numerous television shows; hosted and produced his own self-titled late-night show; acted as MC at the biggest award-events; and filled 3,000-seater venues for his one-man comedy tours. So does he feel he’s reached the ceiling here at home?
“I definitely don’t feel like I’ve done everything that can be done in comedy here at home; that’s why I still come back from time to time, because I still have projects here. I feel the comedy industry on this continent is actually only in its fetal stage. We as comedians still need to find our own identity. We need to move past the stage where American comics still have a huge influence on our material and stage acts,” he says.
So now that we are on the topic of material and where material is derived from, we cannot ignore the rumors emanating from other South African top comics like David Kau, accusing him of using some of their jokes without their authorisation.
“I choose not to respond to people who accuse me of such. I think my work IS my response. It speaks for itself. I wouldn’t have reached the heights that I have reached if all I did was chop other comics’ material,” he says.
So as I continue to probe these accusations and the rumours that he was actually pushed out of the country, Noah tells me his theory regarding this problem: “I find that with us Africans, we like to bring each other down and not celebrate each other’s success. We insist on finding fault within someone’s success when it suits us. I remember at some point in (American hip-hop phenomenon) Jay-Z’s career, all these other rappers came out of the woodwork and accused him of stealing their rhymes. Look where he is now! I am at that point where I don’t even let it get to me,” he declares.
It’s pretty understandable that Noah would think there are envious forces out there. His career is illustrious. His DVDs sell in numbers unheard of in these parts. A representative at NuMetro Distribution, Billy Dundee, revealed that Noah’s first DVD, titled Day Walker, sold in excess of 50,000 copies, giving Noah multi-platinum selling status. “His second DVD, called Crazy Normal, was released at the end of July and has already reached 20,000 units sold,” says Dundee.
Then there’s every performing artist’s dream: endorsing a major company, which Noah has also bagged. Cell C brought Noah on board as a CEO, although in his case the acronym stands for “chief experience officer”. An entire marketing campaign was designed around him to publicize that Cell C were upgrading their systems and call centres and creating a 4G network.
He is—as expected—very evasive about the amount he gets out of this deal, but a source at Cell C, who insisted on not being named, reveals that Noah could be getting around
R10 million ($1.2 million) a year for an endorsement like this.
So with this major endorsement deal, huge performance venues where each person attending forks out anything between R120 ($15) to R200 ($25) for a single ticket, TV shows and MC work, why is it that Noah doesn’t even want to consider listing his company, Ark Angel Entertainment?
“I am where I am today because I focused on my craft. I don’t see the people who come to my shows as numbers. I have chosen instead to surround myself with business-minded people who will worry about the numbers while I continue to worry about perfecting my craft,” says the man who insists that his only real wealth lies in ideas and jokes that are guaranteed to make you laugh.
“I’m not big on property or cars. What’s the point of owning a fleet of cars when you can only drive one at a time? I’m actually very ‘liquid’ when it comes to my investments, mainly because I am a nomad who believes that things like property tie one to a particular place.”
Well, with over 180,000 fans on social network Twitter, it seems Trevor Noah’s enthusiasts will be following him wherever his work takes him. It was Soweto yesterday and LA today, but it’s definitely going be somewhere else tomorrow.

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