The standup comedian won the Sprite Soul Comedy Tour in December 2002. In 2003, he appeared on the SABC1 Pure Monate Show sketch comedy series. He has performed in many one-man shows and comedy festivals since 2006.
Loyiso Gola
Gola is one the most prolific South African comedians of the many years.
Quick Facts
Name:
Loyiso Gola
Born:
16 May 1983 (age 41 years old)
Place of birth:
Gugulethu, Cape Town
Nationality:
South Africa
Education:
Zonnebloem Nest Senior School
Occupation:
Comedian
Years active:
2002–date
Partner:
Cuthu
Siblings:
Lazola Gola (brother)
Early Life
Loyiso Gola was born on 16 May 1983 in Gugulethu, South Africa. He grew up in a small brick home with his parents. His father worked for the SA Council of Churches, while his mother worked at a bank in the city.
The standup comedian has a younger brother, Lazola Gola, who is also a comedian. His parents have separated, with his father living in East London and his mother in Plumstead. He left Gugulethu at the age of 14 and relocated from Cape Town to Johannesburg when he was 19 years.
Education
Gola studied at Zonnebloem Nest Senior School in Woodstock, Cape Town. While in school, he performed a standup opening act for Marc Lottering. After an impressive performance, his drama teacher introduced him to the Cape Comedy Collective. He matriculated in 2002.
Career
In December 2002, Gola won the Sprite Soul Comedy Tour and made his television debut with an appearance on the SABC1 Phat Joe Live talk show. In 2003, he also appeared on the SABC1 sketch comedy series Pure Monate Show.
He has performed many standup comedies in many one-man-shows in the country since 2006. He has also graced international comedy festivals.
Gola joined the SABC 2 Dinner with the President talk show in 2007, created by Pieter-Dirk Uys. He portrayed the black grandson of the satirist’s alter ego Evita Bezuidenhout.
Gola began hosting the Late Nite News satirical series on etv and eNCA in 2010.
Loyiso Gola has performed stand-up comedy at home and international comedy festivals.
His one-man show, Loyiso Gola for President, won him the Best Breakthrough Comedy Act South African Comedy Award in 2007. Mail and Guardian named him on their list of 200 Young South Africans in the Media and Film category in 2012.
His show Late Nite News was nominated as Best Comedy Series at the 2013 International Emmy Award. He bagged the Comic of the Year Award at The Savanna SA Comic’s Choice Award in 2014.
In November 2013, Loyiso was in Cape Town to promote his standup comedy show, Catch Gola Live, at the city’s Baxter Theatre. He was a nominee for the 2013 International Emmy Awards ceremony in New York in the comedy category.
Gola has performed across South Africa and other countries, including New York, London, and Switzerland.
In January 2022, Gola appeared in an episode of the BBC1 program Would I Lie To You? He has appreciated former President Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema for providing ample material for his Catch Gola Live show.
Personal Life
Loyiso Gola was dating a correspondence student at the London School of Economics, Cuthu, in 2013. He is predominantly based in London and have lived there since 2002
Filmography
Television Shows
Phat Joe Live (2002)
The Pure Monate Show (2003)
Dinner with the President (2007)
Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola (since 2010)
Comedy Central Presents Loyiso Gola Live at Parker’s (2012)
