A new week and Netflix has dropped another stand-up series today called Loyiso Gola: Unlearning. As the title suggests, the South African comedian takes about unlearning several things in his life that he has seen/believed so far. The digital platform describes it as “filter-free humour where Gola riffs about race, identity, politics and also an embarrassing school prank.”
The stand-up act was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. With all the precaution and safety measures, Loyiso Gola performed his act in Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon. Like Nate Bargatze on The Greatest Average American, Gola didn’t really start his gig by cracking jokes about the pandemic. Yet, he manages to engulf us in his act from the start till the end.
On Unlearning, Loyiso Gola talks about how people often stereotype him because of his background and colour. He shares an anecdote where a journalist once asked him what he was doing when Nelson Mandela was released. While giving a witty answer to this question, Gola also shares how, during kindergarten days, he and his classmates ‘protested’ to free Mandela. The comedian says at that time they didn’t even know how the former President of South Africa looked like.
Loyiso Gola also shares the reason why he was mad when Donald Trump won the elections in 2016. Believe me, it is not what you think and that is what makes his story amusing AF. The comedian also shares how shocked he was when he saw 3 white poor people in Lithuania. Growing up, he never saw white poor people so he unlearned this perception when he came across these three.
Gola tells us some more tales of his childhood and his adventures of teenage days with his white friend Seth Langley. The comedian shares how he was stunned to know that Seth eats Tuna every day when his family could only afford it during Christmas. But the funnier part was his reaction when he saw how huge his white friend’s house is!
As we delve more into his adventures with Seth Langley, the act gets funnier. The prank they pulled off during their school days is truly embarrassing and you can’t stop laughing as you imagine it. Loyiso Gola shares his experience of studying in a school based in a Muslim locality and his understanding of them which is different from those who freak out since 9/11.
Loyiso Gola was already confident about what he had prepared for the stand-up act and performed it brilliantly. But the set also captivates you because of the connection he builds with his audience. In between his performance, he would interact with someone from the audience and crack a joke, whether it’s about wine or the VIP seating arrangement.
Loyiso Gola: Unlearning: Is it worth it?
Overall, Loyiso Gola: Unlearning is wondrous. You have a good laugh as Gola tells us tales from his childhood till now with comprehensive insight about race and white privilege.
Loyiso Gola: Unlearning is currently streaming on Netflix.
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