Yesterday afternoon, a column written by Sipho Hlongwane lamenting what he saw to be a lack of quality comedic performance in South Africa was published on 2oceansVibe.com. The article attracted a flurry of comments, all of which were strongly opinionated. Now Loyiso Gola, South African comic and main subject of Sipho’s column, has responded. Click through for Loyiso’s reply, Sipho’s column, and links to posts written in response to Sipho’s column.

Read Where Are All The Good Comedians?

Loyiso’s reply.

I THINK YOUR OPINION PIECE IS WELL THOUGHT OUT, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU WERE THERE WITH DAVID KAU AT THE BAXTER WHEN HE WAS PLAYING TO 12 PEOPLE EVERY NIGHT AS A STUDENT IN 2001 TO SELLING OUT A 5000 SEATER TEN YEARS LATER. YOU WERE THERE WHEN WAS WHEN HE WAS CULTIVATING AN AUDIENCE. OH YEAH I REMEMBER SEEING YOU EVERYDAY ON THE SET OF PURE MONATE SHOW WHEN DAVID KAU AND KAGISO LEDIGA INTRODUCED THE MASSES TO STAND UP COMEDY.

YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS SUBJECT ARE SPOT ON, THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO TUNE IN EVERY WEDNESDAY TO WATCH LNN ARE MORONS AND THE E NEWS CHANNEL ARE CRAZY FOR GIVING US A THIRD SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 10000 PEOPLE WERE CRAZY TO BUY TICKETS TO TREVOR NOAH’S TOUR. 6000 PEOPLE INSIDE THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON ARE MAD TO PAY 60 POUNDS TO WATCH SOUTH AFRICAN ACTS. YOUR OPINION IS WELL RESEARCHED.

ALL THOSE YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOL FROM ALL RACES WHO COME UP TO ME ON THE STREET TO TELL ME THEY WANT TO DO STAND UP COMEDY BECAUSE THEY SAW ME DO IT. I MUST TELL THEM THEY ARE DELUSIONAL.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS TO ME AND I WILL TRY VERY HARD TO TO IMPRESS YOU. HOW DARE SOUTH SOUTH AFRICA LAUGH AT THEMSELVES!

Read comedian, Warren Roberston’s reply to Sipho’s column, here.

A debate is happening in the zeitgeist. What are your thoughts on satire and comedy in South Africa?