Renowned Egyptian-American comedian, Bassem Youssef, known for his razor-sharp political satire, is set to enthral his South African fans with his “The Middle Beast” tour.
Kicking off on Friday, February 7, at the Durban International Convention Centre, he will also take to the stage in Cape Town on Saturday, February 8, before heading to Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on Sunday, February 9.
A unique voice in the realm of comedy, Youssef is set to take fans on a captivating journey that reflects his personal and professional evolution, from heart surgeon to the host of the most watched political satire show in the Arab world, “Al Bernameg”.
The award-winning entertainer, often referred to as “The Egyptian Jon Stewart”, has a knack for intertwining humour with significant social and political commentary, a feat that has resonated with millions of people globally.
However, his rise to fame came at a steep price, leading to his arrest, interrogation and eventual exile to the United States during a tumultuous era in Egypt's history.
Despite these obstacles, he emerged stronger and recently garnered international attention with his interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored”, now the most -viewed episode in the show's history.
Reflecting on the essence of his work, Youssef shared: “The most rewarding thing about my career is that I make people laugh ... If you are in a room and people laugh with you, being the reason for people's happiness is the most important thing in the world.”
During his upcoming shows, audiences will be treated to personal anecdotes that explore his transition from medicine to comedy as well as the complexities of raising his family in a foreign land.
“The show is about my personal journey, about how I was a heart surgeon for years and how miserable I was before I found comedy.
“I also talk about how comedy got me into a lot of trouble, how I was in the middle of a gun rally under Donald Trump in the US and about the identity crisis I faced having to raise my kids in a different country.”
Aside from his tour, Youssef is preparing to soak in our beautiful country.
“I am not only coming as part of a tour; I’m coming to enjoy a country that has been on my bucket list for years. I want to kite-surf and go on safaris.
“Most importantly I want to pay tribute to the wonderful people of South Africa, who single-handedly stood against the Western world and showed them what justice looks like.”
Recalling his meteoric rise to fame in Egypt, Youssef candidly reflects on the despair that came with fleeing his homeland.
“I rose to fame very quickly in Egypt and I had the biggest show with millions of people watching, but then I had to flee from my country. I had to start a new career in the United States and that was a very low point in my life.
“I had to build my way up doing stand-up comedy in my second language, English... It was a very dark two or three years starting off, then it started going well and I started to fill up venues, and I was very happy ...
“But these low moments are very important, they are humbling and they give you a lot of perspective, it builds character.”
His admiration for South Africa's rich diversity and cultural tapestry is evident.
“You guys have so many official languages, to have a country with so much diversity, so many cultures. I mean, I’m going to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town and I am sure I’m going to be in three different universes, which in itself is crazy.
“I’m so excited to explore the country ... Every South African I’ve met everywhere were like the nicest people ever.”
In a quirky twist, Youssef took the opportunity to share rumours about himself that had him in stitches.
“When I was in Egypt, someone from the media accused me of being trained by the CIA officers in order to use satire to bring down the country and that they hired Jon Stewart to recruit me. That was one of the funniest rumours that went around.
“Another was after years of making fun of Muslims in Egypt, I have found that Zionists have accused me of being in a secret Muslim brotherhood.
“It’s so funny how people will throw anything at you in order to discredit you and it often blows up in their face because they’re dealing with comedians, you can’t go there.
Ultimately, Youssef left South Africans with a powerful message: “You showed enough bravery, courage, soul and character to stand against the lies of Western countries lecturing us on human rights and freedom. You made us proud and put others to shame.”
Where: Durban ICC.
When: Friday February 7, at 8pm.
Cost: Tickets are R299 to R1500. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketpro. The show has an age restriction of 16.