Who’s Opinion Matters?
There seems to be a very hot debate happening on the interwebs over an article written by Sipho Hlongwane on 2oceansvibe about his personal opinion on South African comedy. For those of you who don’t know Sipho Hlongwane, to quote directly from The Daily Maverick,
“Sipho Hlongwane is a writer and a columnist. His interests range from social networking to history. Basically anything, as long as it doesn’t involve maths. He has driven forklift trucks, hosted radio shows, waited tables, reviewed books and has won prizes in visual arts competitions. You know, the normal, growing-up stuff.” (click here to see his full profile on The Daily Maverick)
For those of you who do not know Loyiso Gola (then I don’t know what you are doing even following my blog… this is a niche South African comedy blog, you should know Loyiso by now, but to be fair, not everyone knows Loyiso Gola or else he would have been on an international movie like Russell Peters on “Source Code”, but then an entertainer’s role in an international blockbuster is not secured only on fame and popularity, but also talent, because as we speak, my brother Fana Mokoena is acting in World War Z with Brad Pitt which should come out in then next year or so… but I digress)
The core of Sipho’s article is that he made some very bold conclusions about South African comedians based purely on the LNN show. The article stirred a debate on 2oceansvibe (click here to see the original debate) and actually got a response from Loyiso Gola himself. Below is a little snippet that illustrates the tone of his response:
“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.” - (click here to see the full response)
What I find very interesting about all of this is in any debate, I like to try and figure out people’s motives for writing what they have written. Firstly, being a sales director for Africa’s biggest blog aggregator (Afrigator.com) I have a very good understanding as to how popular blogs (like 2oceansvibe) get to have such a huge readership. Controversy is probably one of the easiest ways in which to get more readers. Debates, arguments, opinions are the ingredients of so-called “interesting reading” and facts are the ingredients of dictionaries and encyclopedia’s. My niche role in all of this well be to to attempt to bridge the two together.
I have already introduced you to the two main players in this debate, Sipho Hlongwane and Loyiso Gola. Having checked out Sipho’s profile on The Daily Maverick, I tried to see if he had written any previous articles on comedy (so that I could see if he was an authority on comedy or even a regular supporter of stand up comedy). If you check his past articles on The Daily Maverick he has a very impressive archive of articles ranging from black consciousness, politics and media. Nothing about comedy though.
So comedy is not his forte, but to be fair he may be trying to do more comedy writing and this is just a start, in which case I commend him for his efforts, but advise him to watch more live stand up comedy instead of composing opinions about the whole of the SA comedy industry while lounging in his couch criticizing the LNN show. His article was entitled “Where are all the good comedians?” and my answer to him is “In the comedy clubs”. Someone could have saved him a whole blog post if they had just answered his question. More importantly, his article actually insults not only the LNN show but EVERY single comedian in South Africa, myself included.
Usually when I am insulted, I get angry, but in this case, I am not so angry because I do not really think that his opinion matters in this particular case. He is an opinionista (which means he gets paid to express his opinion - a concept I find very interesting because everyone has an opinion, but only few get paid to express theirs… mmmm, the plot thickens) and thus he is used to expressing his opinions. He has a huge following, so clearly lots of people like his opinion (or find it to be “interesting reading”). The problem with opinionista’s is that they are so used to intellectual masturbation that sometimes their brains can get so drenched in debate-semen that they want to start debates about topics they no nothing about, just for the sake of their egos – which are fueled by intellectual masturbation.
I found it interesting that in Sipho’s profile it said “ His interests range from… Basically anything, as long as it doesn’t involve maths.” Unfortunately for Sipho, entertainment (especially comedy) is a numbers game. How many gigs can you perform, how many fans can you please, how big can you grow you database, how many sold out venues have you performed, how many comedians have you seen live, how many viewers actually watch the LNN show, how many comedy events are there actually in South Africa, how much money must go into marketing to fill out a theatre of 600, how many people are influenced positively from comedians in South Africa? Although comedy is a form of social commentary, your success and understanding of the industry is based on realising that it is a numbers game.
So what I am trying to say is that Sipho expressed his opinion on South African comedy (which lacked much research) and Loyiso’s response was a factual retaliation. In this case I just need to see who’s opinion matters to me, so let me try and run the numbers on this one:
Sipho Hlongwane – very good writer, but not an authority within the comedy world
Loyiso Gola – has performed to thousands of fans live, has featured in various TV shows, host of LNN (which has millions of viewers), has been on many comedy dvds, has been performing comedy for ten years
Between the two of them, in this case, Loyiso’s numbers over-rule Sipho’s opinion. We all know that facts tell, but stories sell, but in this particular instance I think that Sipho needs to do the math. The good comedians are in comedy clubs [fullstop] Don’t look for good comedians on TV. That’s like looking for good quality apples in Apple Crumble. When you looking for something good, go to the source… not the sauce. If you want to know where those clubs are, CLICK HERE.
Below are some other articles on this issue written by people who’s opinion I respect within the comedy industry:
Solid Game – Where are all the good comedians, The Translation
Welcome to Mumz The Word (and no, this is not a real Facebook page). Let this site be your comedy playground. I will post articles of interest to the comedy industry and articles that are just generally funny. I would also like to encourage you guys to send through jokes that tickled you or made you hurl with unadulterated laughter.
KB
what I wrote:
KB
January 24 2012
I know this is belated, but as in the case of birthday wishes, you gotta take it (albeit begrudgingly at times).
So I see you tried to lead by example, even if it was (failed) Pied Piper style, cause ain’t no SA Comedians drowning cause of you, most being Black, they know better than to approach water. So much to say, clocks ticking (as are characters), therefore I’ll streamline this for you:
DUDE, like WHAAAAAAT???
Am I an avid LNN viewer, popcorn warmed, Alarm on, friends and girlfriend ditched (favourite chilling, rip-torn boxers worn and best position on couch re-discovered) in support, and if I could pause and be so bold, it’s so far from my cup of tea, when swallowed it tastes like Stroh Rum (WOW, haven’t indulged in that for … like … EVA!).
but back to the matter at hand, because if left to my own devices, you’ll find me suckling at the titties in no time (see, it’s already begun). What you have so impressively managed to do, besides look like a “Hit-seeking Imbecile” (so close, but doesn’t REEEEALLY rhyme with missile does it?) is forget to illustrate that you have a clear understanding of the man’s mission (one he is completing with Bond-like, Hunt-inspired perfection) and that is to give the people (yes, we aren’t all on the small screen to ensure that you’re entertained, oh opinionated, ill-informed one). That humour you speak of would be lost on THE MAJORITY of people who ensure that you see another Season (because unlike America, we have 11 different national languages, our own way of ubuntu-inspired life-Kasi living, we think differently, our own specific brand of music and a whole lot more differences-probably not up to your gold-plated-carrot-up-your-YIIIIIIIIIIIP- that’s right ash! (ooops, why no spell check Chief?) that make this country so freaking great (as opposed to your Obese-mecca for the loud, which I’m sure you’re more suited for).
Unless you can ask your boss (YIIIIIIIP, took it there), to get some of his sponsors to seriously back those that literally swear off ‘Iyo, nice time, nice time!’ in the pursuit of laughs from ungrateful ingrates who have no appreciation for the depths these men dive to hoping to resurface with any form of repeatable and respectable, with a side order of longevity, income to allow them to ‘splash out’ and maybe eat at Ocean Basket (YIIIIIIIIIP, it’s that dire) once in a while, you need to watch your freaky deaky words Boet (Aaaaaah, written aggression can be achieved with such ease, unlike long-lasting success stories in the Comedy Industry (forget Wally, where’s Vlismas?).
Having ditched that particular world, for the sake of more sobriety and actual income that would make a mother proud as opposed to bringing her out of retirement to take her of her ‘sweet little son that’s a bitch).
I had so much more to say, but alas, the fact that you’ll probably never read this because it’s served it’s purpose when sent out (and what a rise you got, several other blogs, Tweets, like a certain pizza, The Works) and that you’ll probably never read this, being the know-it-all “OMG, look at this Oak….Hello, oh hey 2011, yeah, I think he misses you too” (Use it, it’s on me, that’s right, at my expense).
NEVER compare your home country to others too, especially the US. immediate reader alienation and proof that while Loyiso is out there giving people what they want (the guy has a History of that, the crazy coot), you’ve got your sights set on the ‘Other’ box.
Total case of one so immersed in his 10 percentile way of life, he forgets that he makes up a small number (even though they own 90%) and E-TV is reaching those okes, not you chilling in Camps Bay, typing on your latest Mac, Gucci shades strategically placed in a manner that expresses that you’re fashionable, but it doesn’t define you, looking for that next philosophical debate to drop in your pieces to ensure that your peers are fully aware that: When it comes to know-it-all’s, your all know no boundaries at all!