The announcer’s voice boomed through the preview video, deep and resonant, the kind that usually introduces football starting lineups before a World Cup match. “And captaining the squad tonight… wearing the number one jersey… from Soweto, by way of the world… TREVOR NOAH!”
The crowd in the teaser clip roared. The screen flashed green and gold. And for a moment, you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a Bafana Bafana press conference.
But the jersey said something different. Across the chest, where “Bafana Bafana” (The Boys, The Boys) would normally appear, a new word had been emblazoned: “Bafunny Bafunny.”
Trevor Noah, the former host of The Daily Show, international comedy superstar, and now self-appointed captain of South Africa’s “National Team of Comedy,” has announced his most ambitious local project since leaving the country for global stardom. Bafunny Bafunny — a comedy festival sponsored by Savanna Cider — will kick off on September 5, 2026, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, before moving to Cape Town’s Grand Arena on September 26.
Directed by fellow comedy heavyweight Loyiso Gola, the tour features Noah headlining, with veteran comic Eugene Khoza serving as the team’s “coach” — a nod to the technical staff of a real football squad — and a full squad of South Africa’s most exciting stand-up stars.
The response has been instantaneous and ecstatic. Fans have flooded social media with their dream lineups, tagging favorite comedians, debating who should be “called up” to the national team, and snapping up tickets at bafunnybafunny.com. Within 48 hours of the announcement, the Pretoria show had sold over 70% of its capacity.
“It’s not just a comedy show,” Noah said in a video announcement filmed on a football pitch, wearing a goalkeeper’s jersey and gloves. “It’s a movement. It’s a celebration. It’s us, as South Africans, saying: we are the funniest people on earth, and it’s time we formed a team to prove it.”
The Concept: Why ‘Bafunny Bafunny’?
The name is a masterstroke of cultural and linguistic play.
“Bafana Bafana” — the nickname of South Africa’s national football team — is a phrase known in every corner of the country. It is a source of pride, frustration, hope, and heartbreak. It is identity itself. By riffing on that name, Noah both honors the original and claims that comedy, like football, is a national sport worthy of a national team.
“The boys are called Bafana Bafana because they are the boys of the nation,” Noah explained in a podcast interview following the announcement. “Well, who tells the nation’s jokes? Who makes the nation laugh? That’s Bafunny Bafunny. We are the funny boys. Or funny girls. Or funny everyone.”
The football metaphor runs deep throughout the tour:
- Noah is the captain — the star player, the leader, the one who takes the penalty shot when the game is on the line.
- Eugene Khoza is the coach — the veteran who has seen it all, who drills the squad, who delivers the halftime pep talk.
- Loyiso Gola is the director — the tactical mastermind who arranges the lineup and ensures the set pieces work.
- The featured comedians are the squad — each with their own position, their own playing style, their own role in the comedy formation.
- The audience is the 12th man — the home crowd, the supporters, the reason the team takes the field.
“We are going to do a comedy huddle before every show,” Noah joked. “We will have a team chant. We will have kits. We might even have substitutions. If a joke doesn’t land, I’m pulling the comedian and bringing on fresh legs.”
The Captain: Trevor Noah’s Return to South African Stages
Trevor Noah needs little introduction. Born in Soweto in 1984, he began his comedy career in Johannesburg’s small clubs before becoming the host of The Daily Show in 2015, a role he held for seven years, earning multiple Emmys and a global following. Since stepping down in 2022, he has toured the world, hosted the Grammy Awards, and continued to sell out arenas from London to Sydney.
But South Africa has always been home. And Bafunny Bafunny represents a rare opportunity for local fans to see Noah not as an international export, but as a local captain, leading a homegrown squad on home soil.
“I’ve done solo shows in South Africa before,” Noah said. “They were amazing. But this is different. This is about the team. About the scene. About all of us, together, making the country laugh. I don’t want to be the only one on stage. I want to bring everyone with me.”
Noah has also been vocal about the importance of comedy in difficult times. With South Africa facing economic struggles, political uncertainty, and the lingering trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, laughter is not a luxury — it is a necessity.
“Our country has been through a lot,” Noah said. “We have every right to cry. But we also have every right to laugh. And the two are not opposites. Sometimes, the only way to survive is to find the joke in the tragedy. That’s what South Africans do. That’s what we’ve always done. Bafunny Bafunny is us doing it together.”
The Coach: Eugene Khoza’s Veteran Wisdom
If Noah is the captain, Eugene Khoza is the coach — the grizzled veteran who has seen comedy evolve over decades and who knows how to get the best out of a squad.
Khoza, a legend of South African stand-up, began performing in the 1990s, when comedy clubs were few and audiences were often hostile to black comedians. He persevered, built a following, and became a mentor to an entire generation of younger comics, including Noah himself.
“I’ve known Trevor since he was a teenager,” Khoza said in an interview. “He used to come to my shows and just watch, never saying anything, just soaking it all in. I knew he had something special. Now he’s the captain, and I’m the coach. Life is strange. Life is beautiful.”
Khoza’s role in Bafunny Bafunny is not just ceremonial. He will perform his own set, but he will also serve as the master of ceremonies, introducing the squad and keeping the energy high between acts.
“Eugene is the backbone of South African comedy,” said Loyiso Gola. “He has seen it all. He has done it all. Having him on this tour is like having a captain who has already won the World Cup. The young comics look up to him. We all do.”
The Director: Loyiso Gola’s Vision
Loyiso Gola, the director of Bafunny Bafunny, is himself a comedy heavyweight. The host of the long-running Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola on e.tv, and a globally touring stand-up, Gola brings a sharp, satirical edge to the project.
His role as director involves not just overseeing the logistics of the tour, but shaping the flow of the show — deciding which comedians perform when, how long each set runs, and how the transitions between acts maintain energy and momentum.
“Directing a comedy show is like directing a football match,” Gola explained. “You need to know when to attack, when to defend, when to let your star player run free, and when to rein them in. The audience doesn’t see the structure. They just feel it. My job is to make sure they feel joy from start to finish.”
Gola and Noah have known each other for nearly two decades, coming up through the same Johannesburg comedy circuit. Their collaboration on Bafunny Bafunny is a reunion of two friends who have each conquered the world in their own way.
“We’ve done shows together in tiny rooms with ten people,” Gola recalled. “Now we’re doing arenas. Same jokes. Same friendship. Just more zeros on the ticket price.”
The Squad: South Africa’s Comedy Stars
While the full lineup has not yet been announced, the Bafunny Bafunny teaser video and press materials have revealed several of the comedians who will be part of the “national team.”
Confirmed so far:
- Trevor Noah (Captain) — Headlining, performing a full set in each city.
- Eugene Khoza (Coach) — Performing and serving as MC.
- Tumi Morake — The trailblazing queen of South African comedy, known for her sharp wit and unflinching honesty about race, gender, and motherhood.
- Skhumba Hlophe — The Zulu comic whose high-energy storytelling has made him a festival favorite.
- Geraldine Moffat — The Cape Town-based comedian whose observational humor has earned her a cult following.
- Riaad Moosa — The doctor-turned-comic who has headlined major festivals and starred in films like Material and Wonder Boy for President.
- Mashabela “Mash” Galane — The rising star who went viral for his hilarious takes on South African accents and cultural stereotypes.
More names are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with speculation that Schalk Bezuidenhout, Celeste Ntuli, and Deep Fried Man may also be called up to the squad.
“This is not a Trevor Noah show with opening acts,” Gola emphasized. “This is a team. Every comedian on that stage is a star. Every one of them could headline their own arena tour. Together, we are unstoppable.”
The Sponsors: Savanna Cider’s Bold Move
The decision by Savanna Cider to sponsor Bafunny Bafunny is a significant investment in South African comedy. While alcohol brands have long sponsored music festivals and sporting events, comedy has often been overlooked.
“Savanna is about lightheartedness, about not taking yourself too seriously, about enjoying the moment,” said Savanna brand manager Thabo Nkosi. “That is exactly what Bafunny Bafunny is about. We are proud to be the official partner of South Africa’s national comedy team.”
The sponsorship includes:
- Title branding across all marketing materials.
- A “Savanna Stand-Up Lounge” at both venues, where ticket holders can enjoy the cider before the show and during intermission.
- A social media competition offering fans the chance to win VIP tickets and meet the comedians backstage.
Noah, who rarely endorses products, made an exception for Savanna, which he has been seen drinking in Instagram posts for years.
“I don’t do sponsored content usually,” Noah said. “But Savanna is different. It’s South African. It’s unpretentious. It’s a cider that knows it’s a cider. And honestly, I’ve been drinking it since before they paid me. So this is just making it official.”
The Venues: SunBet Arena and Grand Arena
Bafunny Bafunny will play two of South Africa’s premier indoor venues.
SunBet Arena, Pretoria (September 5, 2026)
Located at Time Square Casino in Menlyn, the SunBet Arena has a capacity of approximately 8,500. It has hosted international acts including Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, and Kylie Minogue, as well as major local events like the South African Music Awards.
For comedy, however, an 8,500-seat arena is a gamble. Most local stand-up shows take place in theaters of 500 to 2,000 seats. Bafunny Bafunny’s Pretoria show sold over 6,000 tickets within 48 hours — a testament to the drawing power of Noah and the squad.
Grand Arena, Cape Town (September 26, 2026)
Situated in the GrandWest Casino complex, the Grand Arena has a similar capacity of approximately 7,500. It has hosted everyone from comedians (Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle) to musicians (Alicia Keys, John Legend) to stage productions (The Lion King, Hamilton).
The Cape Town show is expected to sell out quickly as well, with fans already booking accommodation from as far away as George and East London.
“Two arenas. Two cities. One nation laughing,” says the tour’s promotional poster, which features Noah in a goalkeeper’s jersey, arms spread wide, as if about to save a penalty shot.
The Fans: Social Media Erupts
The announcement of Bafunny Bafunny has unleashed a wave of excitement on South African social media. Hashtags including #BafunnyBafunny, #NationalTeamOfComedy, and #TrevorNoahCaptain have trended on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
Fan reactions have ranged from ecstatic to comically obsessive:
- “I’ve been waiting for a show like this my whole life. South African comedy finally getting the respect it deserves.”
- “Trevor Noah as captain, Eugene Khoza as coach, Loyiso Gola as director — this is the Avengers of South African comedy.”
- “If Mashabela Galane is not in the squad, we riot. She is the young blood this team needs.”
- “Bafunny Bafunny is the best name for anything ever. I’m crying. It’s so perfect.”
Some fans have gone further, creating their own “dream lineups” and “team sheets,” debating whether comedians like Mojak Lehoko, Ndumiso Luthuli, or Carvin H. Goldstone should be called up as “replacements” for injured or unavailable stars.
“This is the most engaged I’ve ever seen South African comedy fans,” said entertainment journalist Thando Mkhize. “Usually, comedy is a solo sport. People love individual comedians. But Bafunny Bafunny has turned it into a team sport, and fans are responding like it’s the World Cup.”
The Ticketing: How to Get In
Tickets for Bafunny Bafunny are available exclusively through the official website: bafunnybafunny.com.
Pricing is tiered:
- Standard tickets: R450–R750 (depending on seating section)
- VIP tickets: R1,250 (includes premium seating, access to Savanna Stand-Up Lounge, and a Bafunny Bafunny merchandise pack)
- “The 12th Man” package: R2,500 (includes front-row seat, meet-and-greet with the squad, and a signed jersey)
Given the rapid sales for the Pretoria show, fans are advised to book early. A third show, possibly in Durban, has been hinted at but not yet confirmed.
“We are watching ticket sales closely,” said Gola. “If the demand is there, we will add more dates. Maybe Durban. Maybe a national tour. We want every South African who wants to see this show to have a chance.”
The Legacy: What Bafunny Bafunny Means for South African Comedy
Beyond the laughter, beyond the ticket sales, beyond the marketing, Bafunny Bafunny represents something larger: the coming of age of South African comedy as a national cultural force.
For decades, South African comedians struggled for recognition. The venues were small. The pay was poor. The audiences, black and white, rarely sat in the same rooms. Comedy was seen as a hobby, not a profession; a sideshow, not a main event.
That has changed. Trevor Noah became a global superstar. Loyiso Gola hosted a late-night show. Tumi Morake broke the glass ceiling for black women in comedy. Skhumba Hlophe filled theaters across the country. A new generation — Mashabela Galane, Mojak Lehoko, Sifiso Nene — has taken up the mantle.
Bafunny Bafunny is the coronation.
“This is not the beginning,” said Khoza. “This is the recognition of the beginning. We have been building this for 30 years. Now the world sees what we always knew: South Africans are the funniest people on the continent, maybe on the planet. And we have a team to prove it.”
Noah, ever the captain, put it more simply:
“Come to the show. Laugh with us. Be part of the team. And remember: no matter how bad things get, we will always have jokes. That’s the South African superpower. That’s Bafunny Bafunny.”
The Countdown
As of May 5, 2026, there are 123 days until the Pretoria show, and 144 days until Cape Town.
The squad is training. The coach is strategizing. The director is rehearsing. The captain is writing new material.
And across South Africa, fans are clearing their schedules, booking their tickets, and preparing to welcome their national team of comedy.
Bafunny Bafunny. The Boys, The Funny. The laughter begins in September.
For tickets and information, visit bafunnybafunny.com. Follow @BafunnyBafunny on social media for lineup announcements, behind-the-scenes content, and ticket release alerts.
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