Depression and Anxiety
Last year was a very mixed year for me personally and professionally, but the biggest revelation was being diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety[1] . I remember when the depression hit I was just at home and didn’t want to leave my room and do anything. I hadn’t showered in a week; I wasn’t eating, and I was just not in a good space. It genuinely hit me like a brick wall and for the first time in a while even stand-up comedy couldn’t save me and make me happy. So, my brother told me I needed to go to Akeso and I went. It was probably the most important intervention I’ve had in my life for a while.
I am still dealing with the diagnosis and still have many days where I struggle to understand what happened, but I am happier than I have been for a while and was happy to at least start dealing with my diagnosis.
Suicide Amongst Men
The statistics on suicide in South Africa are deeply concerning, and the gender disparities are particularly alarming. According to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), men in South Africa are more than four times more likely to commit suicide than women. This is part of a global issue, with nearly 800,000 people dying from suicide every year, which translates to one life lost every 40 seconds.
The WHO has recognized the urgent need to prioritise suicide prevention, as it claims more lives than diseases like malaria, breast cancer, and even war and homicide. The data paints a troubling picture for South Africa, especially among its male population.
In 2016, South Africa recorded 6,476 suicides, equating to a rate of 12.8 suicides per 100,000 people. This is already higher than the global age-standardized suicide rate of 10.5 per 100,000 in 2016. However, what’s even more concerning is the significantly higher rate among men. Out of the 6,476 suicides, 5,138 were men, resulting in a suicide rate of 21.8 per 100,000 for men. In comparison, the rate for women was just slightly above five per 100,000.
South Africa’s suicide rate ranked as the fourth highest in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with even higher rates recorded in countries like Eswatini, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.
These statistics underscore the critical importance of addressing mental health issues, raising awareness, and providing accessible mental health support, particularly for men who are disproportionately affected by suicide. It’s a complex and urgent challenge that requires concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and policymakers to prevent further loss of life.
One of my best friends ever committed suicide in 2018 and my life was probably never the same after that. The thing that hit me and my other friends the most is that on the outside he legit looked like he was living a great life. That’s the thing these days, we never know what people are going through and social media can make things look all good.
My Journey in Comedy
This is my favourite part to talk about because stand-up comedy genuinely changed my life. The first time I ever watched a show live was Marc Lottering in PE and I was hooked man. He got a standing ovation at the Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth. From that day I was thinking “damn, if I can ever get a chance to do this, I would love to do it”. I was a big fan of the sketch comedy show “Pure Monate”, which featured legends such as Loyiso Gola, David Kau and Riaad Moosa.
I started late-2018/early-2019. I was always told to try out comedy by my brother, Vuyisa Xaba, who is a comedian and close friend from school, but I was too scared. Later, I saw my mentor and friend Vafa Naraghi doing stand-up comedy in Cape Town, then I knew it was a sign for me to try it out. So, he came through to pick me up to do my first gig and I was nervous. I didn’t know what to do or say, I just remember seeing all the other comedians and knowing I wanted to do this and be part of this crew.
My career was stalled by Covid 19, but I am still chasing my dream. 2022 was a proper step in the right direction in my career. I went on tour with household names such as KG Mokgadi, Dalin Oliver and Yaaseen Barnes. The numerous times I opened for them was great; it really taught me a lot about professionalism and what I needed to get to the next level. I got to enter the Savanna Newcomer Showcase in 2023 which is a showcase of the 20 best newcomers in comedy. I got a standing ovation at that show and then I got nominated for the Savanna Comics Choice Award: Best Newcomer. I didn’t win, but I realised that I was on the right path.
SA Entertainment Industry
The South African entertainment industry is starting to boom again after Covid 19, and I think stand-up comedy is starting to find its feet again. The issue of artists being underpaid is a concerning and widely recognized problem not only in South Africa, but in many parts of the world. Artists, including musicians, visual artists, performers, writers, and others, often face financial challenges and struggle to earn a sustainable income from their creative work. However, it has been my experience that comedy is amongst the worst. What I want is for comedians to start getting the love and respect we deserve in South African entertainment, and for comedy to become more financially feasible for comedians who are constantly gigging and doing the thing.
We just want the same financial rewards and opportunities as actors, musicians, DJs etc. I really want to be a part of making comedy a financially viable arts career.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
