Our Experience at Laugh Africa Comedy Festival 2025 Day 1: Highs, Lows & A Fiery Roast
After missing the inaugural Laugh Africa Comedy Festival in 2024 and watching the highlights, photos, and viral clips online, our expectations for the second edition were sky-high. On Friday, 02 May 2025, we were invited to Day 1 of the three-day festival, and while there were some brilliant comedic moments and an unforgettable roast, not everything lived up to the hype.
Red Carpet: Stylish but Standard
The event kicked off with the red carpet. Just like most events, it brought a touch of glitz, photo ops, and familiar faces. It wasn’t disappointing—it did what red carpets usually do—but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary either. Still, it was a nice warm-up for the main acts to follow.
Comedy All Stars: A Strong Start with Mixed Moments
We were than treated to the Comedy All Stars featuring Celeste Ntuli, Griff, Rob Van Vuuren, and Isaac Gampu. Now, I’ll be honest—I’m not a comedy person. But if a comedian can make me laugh and help me connect with their world, they’ve done their job.
Isaac Gampu, who served as the host/MC for this segment, did exactly that. His delivery and timing were spot on, and he carried the show with confidence. Celeste Ntuli, as always, brought her relatable energy and hilarious observations to the stage.
Griff, the American comedian, was a pleasant surprise. He tailored his material to a South African audience and landed his jokes well, proving his versatility and respect for the local culture.
However, I found Rob Van Vuuren’s set less engaging—not because he’s a bad comedian, but because I simply didn’t connect with his style. Comedy is subjective, after all. Some people around me were cracking up, so he definitely reached his crowd.
Time Management: A Missed Opportunity
One of the biggest drawbacks of the night was poor time management. Events didn’t start or transition on time. If the organizers knew timing could be an issue, they could have left the schedule open-ended or simply stated that activities would begin from 16:30 onward. Publishing a tight schedule created expectations that weren’t met.
The Roast of Helen Zille: The Highlight of the Night
Later the night, it was time for The Roast of Helen Zille, and this was easily the highlight of Day 1. Having seen Trevor Gumbi shine in 2024’s roast of Minnie Dlamini on Showmax, expectations were high—and this time, he returned alongside Tumi Morake as co-hosts. Together, they took the roast to the next level.
They were bold, funny, and perfectly in sync. Their energy kept the show flowing and ensured it stayed entertaining from start to finish. The roast delivered brutal zingers and had the audience gasping and laughing in equal measure. It was everything a roast should be: daring, hilarious, and unforgettable.
While I can’t compare it to the Comedy Central Roast of Pearl Thusi from 2024 since I didn’t watch it, I can confidently say this roast stood tall. Tumi and Trevor were the dream team.
Final Thoughts: Enjoyable but Not Exceptional
Overall, Day 1 of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival 2025 was a solid night of laughter, local flavor, and standout moments—especially the roast. But compared to the buzz and goosebumps created by the 2024 edition on social media and Showmax, it didn’t fully meet the sky-high expectations I had walking in.
Still, if you’re a comedy fan or just looking for a good night out, the festival delivers enough laughs to keep you entertained.
