Who is Trevor Noah’s father? How did they lose touch? And what impact did he have on the comedian’s life?

Trevor Noah’s father is Robert Noah, a Swiss-German who opened one of the first integrated restaurants in Johannesburg during apartheid.

Learn how Trevor Noah’s parents met, how Trevor lost touch with his father, and how they reunited through Trevor’s valiant efforts.

Trevor Noah's Father Robert: Once Estranged, Reunited | Shortform Books

Trevor Noah’s Parents Meet

In Johannesburg, Trevor Noah’s mom, Patricia, and Trevor Noah’s dad, Robert, met.

Patricia’s apartment was in a culturally active, artistic community called Hillbrow. This location was relatively liberal and home to whites who disapproved of or didn’t care about apartheid. One of these people was a Swiss-German man named Robert.

Black women were not supposed to live in Johannesburg. The threat of police was always close in this neighborhood. Neighbors were encouraged to spy on one another. At any point, Patricia could have been turned in to the police or suspected of being a spy, which had other consequences. Her ability to trust the people was small, but Robert lived on her floor and seemed trustworthy. He was quiet, reserved, and uninterested in the laws of apartheid.

Robert was almost twice Patricia’s age, and their relationship was more friendship than lovers. Still, one night, she propositioned him about having a child. Not only was having Robert’s baby a form of resistance for Patricia, it was also advantageous. She wanted a baby, not a marriage, and Robert said he didn’t want a child. Also, because it was illegal, he could have no legal claim to the baby. He said no many times before finally conceding.

JazzDash | Understanding The Life And Impact Of Trevor Noah's Father

On February 20, 1984, Patricia gave birth to Noah. She told the doctors the father was from a different country to explain Noah’s complexion.

Trevor Noah’s Father and Mother Conceal Their Crime

Before Noah was born, Patricia found a new apartment in an adjacent neighborhood. She thought this would ensure her freedom from Robert’s involvement. She didn’t want Trevor Noah’s father to be involved. But when Robert saw her afterward and Noah wasn’t with her, he realized he couldn’t have a child and not be involved. The period that followed would become one of dire secrecy for both Patricia and Robert.

Because Robert couldn’t be seen with Noah in public—a white man with a mixed son would raise too many questions—Patricia would take Noah to a park, and Trevor Noah’s dad would join them at a safe distance. This worked most of the time, but once, Noah noticed his father and ran toward him, yelling “Daddy! Daddy!” Other people started to look, and Robert tried to run away. Noah chased him, thinking it was a game of tag.

Soon, Noah could only visit Robert at his home, which was safest for everyone.

The Extraordinary Journey of Trevor Noah's Dad Robert Noah: A Tale of Love  and Reconnection

Robert Noah’s Past

There is so much Noah doesn’t know about his father, even now. He doesn’t know anything about Robert’s extended family or what his life was like before Patricia. What he does know is that his father was a chef in Canada and New York, then opened some bars and restaurants in South Africa, but that’s it. But thanks to Patricia’s insistence, he’s been able to learn a little about Robert as a person.

Noah attributes his father’s private nature to his parents’ ability to get away with a mixed child during apartheid. Where Patricia was feisty, Robert was reserved. Noah believes he is the confluence of both.

Trevor Noah’s dad hated racism and homogeneity of any kind. This feeling wasn’t one of moral superiority, but rather a lack of understanding about why apartheid existed. Robert couldn’t rationalize why white people would come to Africa if they didn’t like black people. Therefore, because the laws were illogical, he never lived by them.

Robert opened the first integrated restaurants in Johannesburg during apartheid through a special license to serve black people. The licenses were distributed by the government out of necessity. Visiting black dignitaries and tourists from other countries were not subject to the laws of apartheid, so they had to make special cases to accommodate them. Black South Africans with money exploited this loophole by frequenting establishments with licenses.

The restaurant was a success. White people were curious about black people, and black people were curious about what the white people were curious about. This common intrigue outweighed the boundaries they were supposed to uphold. But some white people didn’t like these subversive establishments, and they petitioned to have Robert’s restaurant shut down.

At first, the inspectors tried to shut down the restaurant for health violations, but Robert, like most Swiss-Germans, was anything but unclean. Then, they mandated he have a separate toilet for each race of patron. This was an impossible task, and Robert wouldn’t comply. Eventually, he chose to close the restaurant, rather than pander to the government.

Robert’s Freedom To Be a Father

When apartheid ended, Robert moved to a newly segregated and eclectic area called Yeoville. No longer fearing prison, he could now take Noah to play in the nearby park with kids from various races. He and Noah would meet every Sunday afternoon at his house, which was great news for Noah, who got to skip church.