Soli Philander

thumb|Silamour Philander Silamour Philander (19 January 1961 – 4 March 2026), professionally known as Soli Philander, was a South African actor, comedian, director, television presenter and radio personality. He is best known for his work in South African media and theater, particularly for his advocacy and performance of "Kaapse" (Cape) culture and the Kaaps dialect. Quotes I always say other people told me I was a comedian, I didn’t set out to be comedian, I wanted to be an actor, then other people started going ‘you’re funny. In those times the industry of course was very pale native, dit was baai, baai wit (it was very white) and there weren’t many people of colour. Before the revelations came out about him, I was a huge fan of his comedy, I really liked the idea that he could do this without being nasty, swearing and being vulgar. I know this seems ironic now – but his comedy was really very decent. In the beginning I was just going around saying I feel a bit like a fraud because I was not being exceptional, my late brother was one of the funniest people I knew, he could tell a story, and I came from a community of storytellers and joke tellers where laughter was an important part of the community. I’m lucky to come from that environment where laughter is power. I always remember being very young and my grandmother telling the story about her running away from the farm where she was raised, she told me how the farmer came to get her and whipped her, he was on his horse and she was running. I remember her laughing as she told me. I was mortified. This person I loved so much, who was my world at that point, telling the story about this terrible thing that happened to her and just laughing. And I remember asking, how can you laugh? And she told me until you can laugh at something it will always hold something over you. When you can laugh about it eventually you put it in a place where you’re freed from it. And it was the idea that in laughter there was a healing which is my comedic inspiration. I have opinions about just about anything – racism, homophobia, violence against women and children, these things are about quality of life and individuals being able to be able to live a full and meaningful live. When you’re addressing those things directly you have no choice, you are an activist. "Laughter is power, says Soli Philander ahead of 2019 Comics Choice Awards", The Citizen (September 7, 2019) Let's Fix It is definitely the show I have deserved all my life. My friends have told me that I was born to do it and I have to tell you, we'd be crazy if we were expecting more than what we have got so far. We don't get to hear about the quiet strugglers. Let's Fix It is all about talking to people, the people who need an extra hand and those who can help, especially the MDs of companies, and opening them up. It is all about the possibilities of this country. It has really been the extraordinary story of my life. The need out there is extraordinary, You need to approach people's problems with integrity. A wonderful thing to see is people's cynicism completely dissolving when they move around with us. I have had companies come along on shoots where they bring their banners along, and as soon as they see the people who need help, they just go, 'Put it away, put it away. I can tell you this much - I will never complain in my life again after what I had seen, because I have seen some simply extraordinary people. We're trying to take the media in a different direction. We are crossing the line. I think it has always been, 'How can a journalist photograph a starving child and just walk away?' It's not a new idea. There have been similar shows in Australia and Britain, but I haven't seen those. We needed something that applied to the unique-ness of South Africa. Everyone has a theory for the success of the show, but for me the universal thing that I have carried away is what an incredible thing it is simply to acknowledge someone else's problem. I had a woman burst into tears already simply because we showed up and took her problem seriously. Ultimately, Philander has a larger objective with Let's Fix It than to simply entertain by solving other people's problems. We can all sit around and bitch and argue about our problems, but simple things like just smiling at your fellow human beings on the street can make a difference. Get involved in your country. Democracy is a 24 hour responsibility. "For Soli Philander, fixing it is just the beginning", IOL (August 05 2005) External links 0679891 Category:1961 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Actors from South Africa Category:Comedians from South Africa Category:People from Cape Town