Celebrated Egyptian-American comedian and satirist Bassem Youssef is heading to Cape Town.
Youssef is set to make his debut in the country with The Middle Beast Tour in February 2025. The tour starts at the Durban before heading to The Cape Town International Convention Centre on February 8. A third show will take place the following day at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.
In Youssef’s one of a kind solo comedy performance, the audience is taken on a personal journey from Youssef’s career as a heart surgeon in Egypt to finding himself in the middle of the Arab Spring and becoming the host of the largest political satire show in the history of the Arab World. His jokes earned him worldwide recognition as “The Egyptian Jon Stewart,” but also got him arrested, interrogated, and ultimately prompted his escape to America just as the country was going through its very own identity crisis.
The tour is brought to South Africa by Blu Blood in association with Gift of the Givers Foundation. Osman Osman and Shaaista Khan Osman, MD and CEO of Blu Blood, said they were eagerly awaiting the long-anticipated arrival of Bassem in South Africa: “We are honoured to host Bassem Youssef’s first tour in South Africa. As someone who has bridged cultures through his unique blend of humour and storytelling, his ability to use humour to navigate complex social and political issues has made him a powerful voice in today’s world. We believe that he will resonate deeply with the South African audience that are seeking both laughter and thought-provoking perspectives.”
Tickets are available on Ticketpro or your nearest SPAR Payzone kiosk. The show holds a PG-16 age restriction.
Tour Dates:
*Durban: Friday, February 7, 2025 @ Durban ICC
* Cape Town: Saturday, February 8, 2025 @ CTICC (TWO SHOWS 19H00 & 21H45)
*Johannesburg: Sunday, February 9, 2025 @ Emperors Palace