The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival Returns to Johannesburg in May 2025

The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival presented by Savanna and Showmax returns to Johannesburg from Friday to Sunday, 2 to 4 May 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The groundbreaking event is set to transcend borders, languages, and cultures with an even bolder lineup, more laughter, and an expanded showcase of top comedic talent from across Africa and beyond. Here’s what you need to know.

Laugh Africa Comedy Festival Nina Hastie — Nina Hastie

What’s in store at the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival 2025

The festival is a dazzling showcase of laugh-out-loud comedy and promises a weekend of side-splitting performances, transforming the Sandton Convention Centre into a vibrant hub of belly-laughs and festivities.

The three-day festival will include a two-night international headline act, the roast of a well-known media personality, and other comedy shows across a variety of comedic styles. Fans will see the return of firm favourites along with new acts. A special focus on African acts brings together the continent’s top comedic talent, celebrating diverse cultures, voices, and stories through the universal language of laughter.

Laugh Africa Comedy Festival Felix Hlophe — Felix Hlophe

The star-studded comedy lineup

The lineup is star-studded featuring local heavyweights and promising talents such as Felix Hlophe, Trevor Gumbi, Eugene Khoza, Celeste Ntuli, Nina Hastie, Angel Campey, Allan Committie, Rob Van Vuuren, Jam Jam the Comedian, Kagiso ‘KG’ Mokgadi, Mark Banks, Nonto R, and Robbie Collins. Added to this stellar lineup are Griff from the USA, Salvado Ombokolo from Uganda and Eric Lu Savali from Kenya. The international headline act to top Eddie Griffin’s wildly explosive performance in 2024 is yet to be revealed, so keep an eye out for the official announcement on social media.

An unforgettable roast

The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival has been touted as the biggest, most ambitious comedy festival undertaken on the continent, and will yet again host the much-anticipated roast of a prominent South African media personality still to be announced. The 2024 roast of Minnie Dlamini delivered jests, jabs and rollicking humour that was as cringeworthy as it was entertaining.

Laugh Africa Comedy Festival Salvado Ombokolo and Eric Lu Savali — Salvado Ombokolo (left) and Eric Lu Savali (right)

African comedy for a South African stage

Added to the lineup for 2025 are two of Africa’s biggest comedians – Salvado Ombokolo from Uganda, and Eric Lu Savali from Kenya.

With a natural gift for comedy, Salvado Ombokolo has taken his uniquely Ugandan comedic flair to global stages, earning acclaim for his hilarious takes on everyday life, cultural quirks, and the absurdities of modern living. His magnetic stage presence makes him one of the continent’s most sought-after comedians.

Kenya’s own Eric Lu Savali is known for his high-energy performances, quick wit, and bold punchlines. With a career spanning over a decade, he has solidified his place as one of East Africa’s top comedians, blending satire, personal anecdotes, and social commentary into his act. His ability to navigate cultural nuances with humour makes him a crowd favourite.

Stream the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival on Showmax

Showmax, as the official streaming partner, is set to capture the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival’s magic with a 13-part comedy stand-up series and a 90-minute roast, on its powerful new tech platform.

Tracy-Ann Van Rooyen, Executive Head of Content Strategy at MultiChoice, adds, “After the huge success of last year’s festival and our 13-part comedy series, it’s clear that African audiences have a massive appetite for homegrown humour. At Showmax, we’re proud to continue supporting and showcasing the incredible talent across the continent, bringing even more laughter to our viewers.”