Having clinched the 2024 Breakthrough Act and Sauce of the Year accolades at the Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards, Vafa Naraghi is here to show that his craft is bold, unfiltered and unapologetically his own.
Whether on stage or in real life, Vafa is exactly who you would expect him to be – effortlessly funny, a little unpredictable and extremely easy-going. He is authentic, relatable and has an aura that’s impossible to ignore.
From the first hello it’s apparent that comedy isn’t just a few punchlines on stage for him – it’s the way he moves through the world. Behind the jokes is a man with an observant mind who sees the world for what it is.
That blend of humour and insight accompanies him both on and off the stage. Whether he’s performing in front of a crowd or cracking a few one-liners between shots at a cover shoot, he has a hypnotic charisma that knows how to hold a person’s attention.
The road less travelled
Armed with an extra-large cappuccino, Vafa shares that he was born in Pretoria but spent his childhood in Mahikeng in North West. He is of Iranian descent and belongs to the Baha’i faith.
This multicultural background has given him unique insights that shape his craft. “A lot of my socialisation and upbringing was Tswana. My mannerisms, the things I like, the things I don’t like, are very dictated by that.
“My parents are Persian. So, they’re from Iran, but I’ve never been to Iran. They haven’t either, and they didn’t teach my siblings and I much about Iran. Their perspective was that you live in South Africa, and this is your home, and these are your people.”
Consequently, Vafa says “there’s no use us holding on to that or telling you about how we lived. That’s our experience — you go live yours. So whatever is happening outside, that’s you — go and find yourself.
“I think, because of my ethnic and aesthetic ambiguity, I don’t fit anywhere in the country, but I also fit everywhere…
“As South Africans, we tend to typecast people a lot, whether that is to understand them better or to group them or to make assumptions about them, but people can’t really do that with me. So, I end up being able to experience a whole lot more. I would say that’s the biggest part of me being South African in many senses.”
Love and support
Having first qualified as an engineer, Vafa eventually learnt that the corporate life was not where he wanted to be. After performing a 40-minute stand-up set in front of eight of his friends, he realised that he actually has a knack for comedy. Not long after that, Durban-based comedian Carvin Goldstone approached Vafa to do a five-minute set in front of an audience — his first break. Since then, it’s been an upward journey.
That’s not to say that he doesn’t still get a little nervous before performances. “There’s a crazy sort of sensation that you have before you go and perform. I think it’s one of the most vulnerable things you have to do — you feel like you’re wearing no clothes and people can just see everything. And then there’s the expectation for you to be funny on top of it!
“So not only are people giving you attention and watching you, but you need to do something. If you get into your head about that, it can be quite a daunting thing. You never get used to it because the stages always become bigger, the stakes become higher,” he says.
From sold-out shows to viral clips online, Vafa is fast becoming one of the freshest voices in the local comedy landscape, but how does his family feel about his success?
“My mom is not easily impressed, so when she tells you things are good then they’re really good! She doesn’t mince her words. It’s also interesting how my mom gives love and support. If anything, when we’re sitting together, I’m not funny to her — her jokes are funny, and nothing I say or do in my career is impressive,” Vafa reveals.
“She says, ‘I’m happy for you and I love you’. I often get praised in a way that keeps me grounded and balanced. Mom is always there to make sure that I don’t feel like I’m the main guy,” he smiles. “She’s concerned about things like whether I have a roof over my head, am I eating properly, can I sustain myself? Am I able to do what makes me happy?”
Standing ovation
For Vafa, winning the Breakthrough Act of the Year and Sauce of the Year Award at the 2024 Savanna Comics’ Choice Awards [which are voted for by their peers, not a panel of judges] was a surreal moment, equal parts validation and disbelief.
“One of the awards was around creating content and the other one was for stand-up. And for me to be recognised for both of these elements that I do was unreal and amazing. You get nominated and you get voted for by the industry. It’s nice to feel like you’re part of the family and being seen by your peers. It finally feels that I’m part of the industry. Before that, yes, I was working towards being a professional comedian but now it’s finally official,” he says.
“There’s also another component of the awards where the public votes. So both the public and your peers finally see something that you’ve seen in yourself for many years before. I find that’s heartwarming in many senses, too, to know that my work is impactful and valuable and that it means something to people.”
Future plans
Looking ahead, Vafa has no plans to slow down. If anything, he’s hungry to achieve much more, with his sights set on a national tour and projects that push him beyond the traditional spaces of stand-up comedy.
“This year I have two significant goals. One is to have a stand-up tour around South Africa, and then to also find ways of how I can integrate digital spaces and physical spaces.”
“I want to be able to have that balance between speaking to people on digital platforms and speaking to them face-to-face, and get them to experience those two worlds.
By: Rughsaar Bibi Ismail
Photography by: Zhann Solomons
Text courtesy of MAN magazine
Also read: Sheeca on family, faith and fame
