Comedian Trevor Noah shared insights on economics and the arts during a speech at the Standard Bank African Markets Conference 2026. He drew from his experience as a minibus taxi driver in Johannesburg to illustrate investment principles. Noah advocated for greater support of the creator economy to boost South Africa's GDP.
Trevor Noah addressed an audience at the opening cocktail evening of the Standard Bank African Markets Conference 2026, sharing personal anecdotes on economics learned from his time as a taxi driver. "I was a taxi driver for like a year and a half of my life in Johannesburg… I was lucky enough I owned my own taxi, so it was a rare privilege to be a taxi driver/owner," he said. Noah explained how investments directly impacted earnings, noting that installing a good sound system attracted schoolchildren passengers, increasing revenue based on the number of subwoofers.
The event faced a brief power outage, prompting Noah's quip: "I’m sorry, I travel with load shedding so that I always feel at home wherever I go." Interviewed by Bulelwa Tetyana, head of strategy enablement at Standard Bank, Noah recounted driving the taxi to raise university funds, with his mother agreeing to match half the amount. He also mentioned other jobs like TV extras and DJing.
Noah emphasized investing in the arts as a pathway to economic growth, comparing artists to flowers blooming in rocky soil that draw people and create districts fostering new economies. "Artists are the ones who will go where the money does not think there’s any value. They will create there," he stated. He highlighted high school lessons where students' playful stock picks outperformed professionals, underscoring the value of a non-serious approach to investing.
On the creator economy, Noah lamented high data costs in South Africa as a barrier and cited the French government's funding of artists, which produced Paris's iconic works. He referenced conversations with Bad Bunny on Puerto Rico's GDP benefits from culture and the rise of Amapiano music as production costs dropped, arguing that culture attracts visitors and drives growth.