He’s one of the biggest comedians in the country right now and has kept Mzansi laughing with his wit, humour and creative outlook on life. He’s also helped make the lockdown period a little funnier for South Africans with his hilarious social media posts with his wife Davina Mae Goliath – who he welcomed his first child with just two months ago.
Donovan, who is one of the ambassadors for the exciting launch of the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTi, opens up about being a creative, his passion for comedy and how life has changed since becoming a father.
You have recently become a father for the first time. How has having a child changed your way of life?
Everything I do and every decision I make, I think about it’s going to impact her. I feel like I’ve become a lot more focused and purposeful. Tired but focused.
Apart from comedy, what drives Donovan Goliath?
My daughter, my wife, my family, my friends, helping those in need, teaching, art, design, photography and storytelling.
Lockdown brought upon many challenges. How did you manage to navigate the difficulties, especially being in the entertainment industry?
My wife and I quickly pivoted and started creating a lot of content online. We created a cover fashion parody campaign that went viral and caught the attention of many brands who wanted to collaborate with us. That inspired us to experiment more in this space.
You’re really good at creating content. How do you decide what brands are best to collaborate with?
That’s a great question. I prefer to work with brands that are open enough to allow me to do what I do. I turn down a lot of briefs because they either go against my values or clients are just looking for generic cut and paste branded content. My promise to myself, and my audience, is that my content will always either be witty, funny or creative. If a brand doesn’t allow me to tick at least one of those boxes, I turn it down. Lately I’ve been enjoying working with VW especially. I am one of the ambassadors for the new Golf 8 GTI. Not only have they given me a GTI to drive for a while, but they’ve also given me so much creative freedom and allowed me to be me. Have a look at some of the hilarious content I created for them on my social media pages.
How has your love for comedy and your passion for creativity helped you find the sweet spot you find yourself in today?
I was forced to merge my two worlds when the lockdown happened. It was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I’ve always wanted to showcase all of my talents but comedy on its own is very demanding and I could never find the time. I’m really enjoying the space I’m in because I feel like I’m playing in my own lane. Emphasis on playing.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming comedians who are hoping to make it big?
It’s an incredibly difficult, competitive and unpredictable industry. You have to write and show up every single day if you want to find your voice and start building a fan base. The best thing you can do is to be yourself, tell your own stories and experiences in your style consistently. That’s how you’re going to remembered and make a big name for yourself. Be original. People have seen it all and heard it all. Always ask yourself why people would leave their homes and pay to come and see you.
Now that things have started to open up, what new ventures are you working on?
I am still trying to get as many ideas out as possible. I might make a return to the stage but, for now, I’m going to enjoy using different backgrounds and environments for my content and not just my home.
For more information on #GTI8OnTour, download the app here: http://golfgti8.onelink.me/CoRl/57881e5.