Trevor Noah is one of the world’s busiest comics, and his rise to the top of the industry was fast. The South African has already gained mainstream recognition in the USA with The Daily Show, and at only 37 years old, he has his whole career ahead of him still.
Noah’s journey to triumph is one that can motivate other hopefuls from his home country. The Born a Crime author found that relocating to the USA was necessary to propel his career, but this may not still be the case for up-and-coming comedians in the rapidly growing entertainment industry in SA.
Forged his Early Career in South Africa
When Noah began forging his early career in SA, the internet barely existed in the country. At that time, only 6.7% of the nation had access to the online world, meaning that Noah had to opt for more traditional techniques to gain recognition.
Aside from small acting roles, the Johannesburg-born funnyman hosted his own radio show called Noah’s Ark on YFM. In doing so, he followed the trajectory of some of the world’s most successful comedians. The likes of Bill Burr, Ricky Gervais, and Chris Morris all began on the radio before becoming global sensations on television, stage, and film.
After his stint on radio, Noah focused on building his connections by supporting various established acts in the country. He also managed to get gigs warming the stage for international comics who were touring in SA. These included the likes of Gabriel Iglesias and Russell Peters, and these relationships paved the way for Noah’s move to North America in 2011.
Relocation to the States Took Noah to the Next Level
The situation may be vastly different for South Africans now as the entertainment industry in the country continues to grow on the world stage, but in the early 2010s, it made sense for Noah to move to the States to take his career up a few notches. This switch to the land of opportunity did wonders for the South African, as he went on to become the first-ever comedian from his native country to appear on The Tonight Show in 2012.
He followed that up with a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman the next year, and these showings helped him to gain recognition in the UK as well. Noah appeared on various top panel shows in Britain including QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats. It wasn’t long before Noah got a job as a writer and performer on The Daily Show in 2014, and one year later he was named as host of the long-running satirical news program.
Aside from working on hit series like these, Noah finds time to get around and perform stand-up. He has played at some of the biggest casinos in the USA, including the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and the SugarHouse Casino. He’s known to enjoy a flutter on the games and enjoys performing in these settings.
Noah Can Inspire Other South Africans
Evidently, things have massively changed in SA since Noah departed all those years ago. The entertainment industry failed to serve Noah as an effective springboard in the early stages of his career, but now boasts new resources and caters to millions of entertainment-hungry fans. One example of this can be seen within the online gambling industry, which has absolutely boomed in recent years. This is highlighted by the sheer number of online casinos in the country. Players can select sites based on their ratings or bonuses, and the high level of choice on offer shows how competitive and popular the industry is.
Many aspiring stars in SA will be encouraged by Noah’s accomplishments and believe that they can follow in his footsteps. In the modern climate, though, they may need to employ slightly different techniques to get recognised. With the rise of the internet, there is the opportunity to create radio shows online. But the preferred route to fame nowadays is exposure on YouTube and other social media channels. It may no longer be essential for comedians to leave SA for the States either, as entertainment from Africa is now getting more exposure on the international stage.
Noah acts as an inspirational figure to other South Africans who want to hit the big time. Part of his appeal stems from his down-to-earth nature and the fact that he is, for all intents and purposes, so relatable. Noah’s career has been incredible so far, and it’s still in its early stages. He’s likely to be one of the biggest names in comedy for the next few decades, and his achievements can inspire other people from his home nation.
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