Tuesday 11 February 2014

Trevor Noah on Zambian Escalators…

For a number of months now Trevor Noah’s video in which he talks about escalators in Zambia has been the talk of many Zambians. A lot of Zambians have directed their disgust toward the South African stand-up comedian accusing him for among other things painting a picture of Zambians as a backward people.

In the short clip which has been widely circulated on many phones, tablets and all sorts of gadgets, Trevor suggests that the first ever public escalator in Zambia was built in August (2013), thus many Zambians are so fascinated with them that they go to the shopping malls not only for shopping but the experience of ‘riding’ the escalators too. According to Mr.Noah, children in Zambia are not excited by the mention of an afternoon out shopping at the mall but they get excited when a parent mentions that ‘riding’ the escalator will be part of the deal.

So much scorn has been directed at Trevor Noah with many suggesting that he went too far in an effort to make a living by making people laugh. Others even suggested that the comments should have been met by serious remonstrations like the furor that attracted Zambia’s vice-president Guy Scott for suggesting that South Africans are an ungrateful lot of backward people.

Others even suggested that by Noah painting a false and highly inaccurate picture of Zambia to the ‘world’, he is directly making it difficult for tourists to come to Zambia thereby denying us the much needed foreign currency.

  


My views… my thoughts
My question is; who takes comedy as gospel? Granted, Trevor is an international artist who travels the globe, but who takes his words as truth? Let alone even just taking what he says at his shows as his personal opinions. If this was the case then we would conclude that Trevor is a racist, who hates Indians, he was happy with the Marikana mine shooting where more than 34 striking mine workers were killed etc.

Trevor Noah is to me a very intelligent businessman who has used events around him to make comedy which has enabled him make an opulent living. The very first time I watched Trevor on a TV show, in my mind I set him aside from the several stand-up comedians I had listened to before. He was fresh, his jokes were ‘clean’ and above all I think I related more to his jokes. His jokes were closer to home. After many years of listening to American stand-up comedians I got to a point where I believed stand-up comedy in the US was nothing but a load of expletive laden librettos.

In as much as there are one or two materials worth a loud laugh in American stand-up comics, the bulk of it is really polemic execrations. I have listened to Chris Rock, Russell Peters, Jeff Dunham, Dave Chapelle, Dane Cook, Cedrick the entertainer, Bennie Marc and even Eddie Murphy. All of these and many more including Steve Martin and Bill Cosby will make anyone laugh any day, but like a certain colleague of mine often scolds me regarding English jokes, at times I just never found where the joke was. While I struggle to find where the joke actually is in some comedians, others are just too vulgar I can’t sit down in front of the TV and watch with my family.

Then along came Trevor Noah a South African of mixed race but he called himself colored. In some places on the earth, colored may be a racial statement. Trevor joked about politicians; those who condemned everything just because they are opposition, those who stood on podiums to make empty rhetorical statements, those who threatened citizens just because they are in power and yes Julius Malema, Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma. He made jokes about stereotype issues regarding race differences; Indian culture and their love for chilli, black South African culture, even Mexican and American culture.

Trevor has even made jokes on albinism, but is intelligent enough to try not to be offensive as any joke targeted at other people is always executed in the passive tone as a third party. He makes a point to bring it out because it is being said out there, make a joke about it and then in the end mention that is ridiculous (one of the words he uses quite a lot). He is immensely gifted at immersing himself into the lifestyle, beliefs, culture and generally everyday life of others and finding something humorous in it. The fact that in some places serviettes are called napkin was material for him to prepare a script for a show. How many times have you walked in a supermarket and seen a shelf labeled ‘napkins’, and serviettes are displayed there?

In the case of the Zambian escalator jokes, put in typical Trevor Noah fashion, he  mentions to his audience not to picture Zambia as a dusty village as it was a ‘beautiful country with stunning malls, beautiful hotels, roads and developing just like South Africa,  but just never had escalators’. Of course he exaggerated some statements, but that is what comedy is all about. We all laughed when he told jokes where his subjects were South Africans but found offence when we were the subject. He even made fun of the President Jacob Zuma’s rape trial and the nude art painting to the extent where he toyed on jokes regarding SA’s president’s sexuality and sexual maneuvers.

That to me is all what stand-up comedy must be. Find humour in everyday events. He doesn't need to be a clown to be a comic. Even though he blew out of proportion the dates when Zambia had its first escalators, the truth is you will find a lot of children(some adults too) at the malls going up on an escalator then immediately going down one the other end and then up and that continues. Of course as far back as I can remember there were escalators in ZCBC shops back in the 1980’s but then for one reason or another they disappeared only to re-emerge around 2009 or there about.   

Regardless of when the first ever escalator was built in Zambia, it matters less to Trevor as a comic, as soon as he saw a few people seemingly fascinated by one it was enough ammunition for him. The first escalators may have been present in Zambia since the 18th century, 1964 or 1980 but to see a few people so enthralled by it was to him enough material for a show. For all he thought, they could have been built in August!

Comedy actually rides on exaggerations. I have listened to Bob Nkoshya a couple of times make fun of the Lozi tribe. I have never at any time, as a Mulozi child, ever felt offended by any of Bob’s insinuations taken as jokes. One of the Silozi jokes I’ve heard from Mr Nkoshya is that; Lozi’s are a very economical people, which manifests even in the naming of children where a child will be given the same first name which is also the last name. There is no shortage of names but just plain economical. Names of things are extremely shot such as; ndu for house, mba for stomach, ngo for nose etc. This according to Bob is different to Ici bemba for instance where there are longer names as; Ing’anda, Ifumo, Umuona respectively. Bob goes further to suggest that a lady dating a mulozi must bear in mind that the man will display trait of being ‘economical’ which will also be evident in his spending on her. In other words greedy or stingy.

I do not think any mulozi has taken offense to Bob getting the facts of some of the naming or wording patterns and made a joke of it and sugar coat with more insinuations. It is what comedy is all about. A comic sees something odd, amplifies the situation with all sorts of insinuations and they go to the bank smiling.



However, comedians must take responsibility of their utterances to avoid injuring people; it is also everyone’s responsibility to draw the line between comedy and statements of fact. I have played the Trevor Noah clip over and over and each time could only find humor in it. It is by no means a reason for any tourist to shun coming to Zambia, in fact most people would be motivated to come to Zambia to among other things see how Zambians get fascinated by escalators. Then they will realize it may not be entirely true but they will also see a couple of people ‘riding’ the escalators more times than necessary and they will laugh all the way back to their country. Like the saying goes, ‘any publicity is good publicity’

So what? It is just comedy. 



25 comments:

  1. My My My, Zambians can't take a joke? Strange where this sensitivity comes from. Trevor has made fun of Castor Semenya, Julius Malema and even Jacob Zuma. Clearly people are failing to see the joke. Cut the guy some slack. I haven't actually seen the video but have heard people talking about it.

    I like your assessment of what actually constitutes comedy. It normally rides on exaggeration. Comedy at its best is a satirical take on society, transforming the mundane, the everyday experience, even the downright ridiculous into material that makes us laugh at ourselves.

    Great write-up.

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    1. Keith,

      Thanks as always. Yes comedy at its best is a satirical take on society. We should not laugh the loudest when a comedian makes fun of Caster Semenya's physique vis-a-vis her sexuality or likens Nelson Mandela's talking style to a lullaby yet we feel uncomfortable at the fact that the same comedian looks at the official portrait of our head of state and sees the seriousness on the subject in the picture and mentions it can be good for scaring children or some thing of that kind.

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  2. I agree with you and have to add that:
    1. the people indoctrinating Trevor in Zambian culture are to blame for not having their facts on escalators right- Mind you I thought the ones at Manda hill were the first and i was born in the late 70's
    2. I have discussed this issue with some people who have agreed that they were fascinated with the escalators so what Trevor is saying is a true reflection of some Zambians reaction to the escalators.
    3. i have seen first hand the Zambian people ride the escalators like the stairs don't work and take photos. we crack jokes about it in my house.
    4. My children enjoy riding the escalators much more than following mummy into Shop rite. I prefer them to enjoy playing than to become consumers with no conscious to the environment and the world. It is a pity we don't have more open areas with proper play parks for our children to ride on swings etc while the mother does the food shopping and Daddy pretend to watch the kids with a beer in his hand.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous,

      Thank you too, but since I saw the same comment... Thanks Laura.

      The point is simple let us be able to distinguish between a statement of fact and making a joke out of a statement of fact. But you make quite valid points when you mention that the lack of adequate play parks where children will access facilities like swing, seesaws etc makes most of them all the more fascinated when they come into contact with an escalator.

      Of course the absence of any escalators in the country since the early 90's also makes adults fascinated too and they will take them 4 times for no reason.

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  3. People old enough to have lived in the seventies, will remember the escalators in Mwaiseni stores in lusaka. back then, people who were fascinated by them, were from small towns and the rural ares.

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  4. i think the genius of Trevor Noah is that he calls out stereotypes and lazy views even as he finds comedy - watching from New Zealand, I have to confess I'd find it difficult to accurately locate Zambia on a map, or distinguish its culture from Zimbabwe, Namibia or Botswana or Kenya (sheer lack of exposure - I've not yet been to Africa - sorry!)

    But my picture of Zambia from what Trevor Noah said: good roads, hotels, malls, iphones, fast internet.... and people who take delight and joy in new things.

    He was so careful to call out the streotype of dusty hut, and emphasise the iphone/fast internet. I think that's why his comedy is so powerful. It punctures stereotypes, and finds the joy in things.

    In fact - I'm more likely not less to visit Zambia after this!

    And I reallly need to improve my African geography and cultural knowledge!

    And coming from a small town, escalators in the city are still a big deal for country kids. As is riding on a bus or train! When I was a kid, going through a tunnel in the car was a treat when we dropped my mother to the airport! There is much to delight in the modern world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RJ.

      I am glad you see the comedy the same way as myself. comedy. I am also happy that actually you are more likely to visit Zambia as a result of this. So the Trevor Noah video going viral was a good thing after all!

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    2. Oh my goodness, I had the same thought about being young and going into the city (every year or so) and having so much fun on escalators! I'm from the USA and the skit made me think about how excellent it would be - even as an adult - to play on escalators with a group of people.

      I know this was published a while ago, but I just wanted to say I enjoyed your article, Mr. Aongola. As someone from a different country, I agree that Noah's depiction of Zambia made it sound like an appealing place to visit and served in no way as a deterrent.

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  5. I would be more outraged that my country criminalises gay people, not worrying about escalators!

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  6. Lol, first time in Zambia and now i know it was a really hilarious joke....

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  7. If only you write this article yourself but sadly you didn't.
    It's only a joke! Why are people too serious???

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  8. Intelligence point of view without prejudices...

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  9. I hope those Zambians upset with the joke watch the full clip where he notes all these excited people taking photos of the escalators with their iPhones and asking Siri how escalators work. That is "comedy of the absurd" and is a very intelligent way to make a point. I'm from the US where there are literally escalators in countless places, and I know there are Americans (black and white) who have never ridden one or hadn't until adulthood even if they know what an escalator is. Your take on things is spot on, and thank you for sharing them.

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  10. I kinda like to visit Zambia after watching his show. I even read articles on the web about them and their culture. The way Trevor delivered his jokes are kind of an advertisement for the country not the other way around. But still, thanks for the read.

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  11. Vincent Vanhype Armah29 May 2018 at 09:31

    I came here after I saw Trevor's escalator bit. I wanted to know a Zambian's perspective. I'm glad I found this post, it is unbiased, well written and informative. Also, I learned new vocabulary words, "polemic" and "execration". When used together...POW! It's like I'm back in high school studying for college prep all over again. Thank you.

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  12. Trevor is a kind of born joker, dry joker, thats what he born to be, ignorant about everything, and even in his country!

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    Replies
    1. Africa is a continent, not a country. Noah is not from Zambia. He is from the city of Johannesburg in South Africa.

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    ReplyDelete
  14. Trevor Noah IS a comedian after all ! He himself is black, so why is he insinuating Australian Aboriginals & other Africans ? One only has to look at his mug & you'll see its NOT white at all ! Trevor Noah is a black bastard, trying to be white ?

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  15. Trevor Noah should try putting peanuts up his arse to try & make some jokes ! Or even fart around on stage, showing his bum to the audience ! And maybe even show his big hairy pelican in front too !

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  16. Wake up, Trevor Noah. Comedy is comedy. Racial slurs are NOT comedy. Just shove your black cock up your arsehole if you cannot say nice things about people. You may be a funnyman but a cunt at the same time. Australian Aboriginals have a culture that dates back 50000 years & more.
    Trevor Noah's culture is between his thighs !!

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  17. I use to listen to Trevor Noah's comedy very often & liked it. But after he made shameful & 100% lie jokes about his own African people , the Zambian escalators I truly lost appetite to his comedies.

    He was saying that the boy riding escalator failed buckward and hurt his head and that made him burst in loughter.

    What the heartless dollar minded man calling himself African while making fun of our beautiful & highly cultured Zambians the pride of our beautiful continent.
    Tamiru Tiguh Inika (Ethiopian African).

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  18. I call apon all Africans to avoid watching Trevor Noah's comedys and never subscribe even if you watch until he publicly apologize to the Zambian people and to all Africans for disgracing us.

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    1. When the comedy joke on Africans is taken to USA ,and people make fun of them it makes me nervous.
      Trevor Noha grown up under apartied & he can take any joke his slave masters throw to him
      and his fellow South Africans.
      It is different when it comes to Zambians divinity.

      He must apologize to Zambians or deal with the future back clash from all Africans.

      Tamiru Tiguh Inika (Ethiopian)/African

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    2. He presented a picture of a generally modern country that didn't have escalators, so people get a kick out of them. There was nothing negative about Zambia in that story. Most of us Americans find subway trains rather exotic, but that doesn't mean those people are backward. They just don't live in one of the few cities that have subway trains. If they are from a small town, they most likely have never been on a public bus either. We have almost no roundabouts at all, so when we drive in countries that do, we're nervous about encountering one. These are just differences, no issues of superiority or inferiority. And Trevor's story made me think that Zambians sound like pleasant people. Was he wrong?

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