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He's one of the brightest young talents on the SA comedy scene, racking in several nominations for best Newcomer and Breakthrough act over the last few months. But what is it that made Donovan Goliath turn his back on a successful career as an Art Director to go make people laugh?
The Juice spoke to Donovan ahead of the Savanna Comic's Choice Awards later this year to find out what makes him funny, getting asked to shut up and inviting Beyonce and Pharrell to his birthday party
Congrats on your nomination for best Breakthrough act of 2014 at the Savanna Comic's Choice Awards. Tell us, at what age did you realise you were funny?
You know what man? I've actually always been funny. I've always been that guy, the class clown, the one that's funny near the braai. I realised I actually wanted to make this my life about three years ago. I was watching a comedian talk about his life and experiences and I realised I have a lot of funny things to say. I never wanted to be a stand up comedian EVER, it was just one of those side gigs, but I gave it a shot and that was it!
Well you look white but speak fluent Xhosa! That must throw people for a loop?
Yeah! People are super shocked when they hear or see it because it's just weird. They wonder what's going on because I'm so pale. The funniest stories around that are when people are talking behind my back in Xhosa, saying something like 'look how he's dressed" or "Look at this white guy ordering pap" and then I fly around and answer in Xhosa. The look on their face is the funniest.
Has it always been like that?
Yeah, it has but the funniest was in school when the Xhosa girls who thought I was white would put on a funny accent, a weird pretentious twang when they spoke to me. It was weird but their reaction when I spoke to them in Xhosa was the best!
What's the hardest crowd you've ever performed to?
We run a couple of spontaneous shows and those are always crazy, but once we did a show for over 400 Cyprian's where a guy actually told us to shut up because they couldn't hear each other talking.
Another one was the LOL show at Gold Reef City where we had 45 minutes to do this show and there were only like seven people in the audience, all over 60, who for 45 minutes wouldn't even crack a smile.
We have to ask! Your names are Donovan David Goliath. what's up with that? Were your parents grooming you to be a pastor?
Hahahahah no man. My granddad's name is David Goliath so I'm named after him but you can imagine there was no buffer for him. I at least have Donovan as a buffer for all the jokes. But no neither of us were, or are, pastors.
So who's your celebrity crush?
It has to be Beyonce! She's so talented and not only musically.
And the one celeb you would love to have at your birthday party?
Beyonce would be there but probably Pharrell Williams. That guy is so super talented. I would also have the Wu Tang Clan , Justin Timberlake and Scarlett Johansson.
Catch Donovan and Team Goliath every Sunday at PopArt on Arts on Main.
