Perspectives on the past, present & future of Black comedy in Canada
To celebrate Black comedy, CBC Comedy asked several comedians across the country to share their view on where things have been, how things are now, and their hopes for the future. These standup comics and onscreen performers each have a unique journey in the industry with a strong point of view, and we hope that their perspective helps provide some amplification, education and inspiration for the possibilities of Black comedy's future in Canada.
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Past
"If we're talking about the legacy of Black Canadian comedy, the conversation starts with Kenny Robinson. For over 25 years Kenny has been hosting the Nubian Disciples comedy show, a monthly Black comedy show that gave so many of us Black comedians an opportunity to grow and perform in a setting where we don't feel othered. Kenny is nicknamed 'The Godfather' and I owe so much of my success to him. Also, I have to shout out Ron Edwards, another pioneer. Those two played in places that I don't think I ever could to establish something really special here." - Alan Shane Lewis
"Kenny Robinson is the godfather of Black Canadian comedy, responsible for the longest running Black comedy show in North America, and is a mentor to many of us. Kenny is outspoken, funny and unapologetically Black... and not unrelatedly, he is woefully under featured on Canadian television." - Aisha Brown
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READ: The Godfather of Comedy: Kenny Robinson celebrates 25 years of his successful Nubian Comedy Revue
"I'm not sure how many other people have mentioned Kenny Robinson as someone who paved the way for Black representation in Canadian comedy, but I would like to jump onboard that train. And maybe be the conductor of said train because I like the hat." - Jamillah Ross
"I'm sure the name you will hear the most is Kenny Robinson. Him and his Nubian Disciples of Pryor show are like the foundation for Black Canadian comedy. That show really gave a voice and place of opportunity that black comics may not have been getting elsewhere." - Travis Lindsay
"If you google 'Black Canadian Comedians,' you get a list of Canadian comedians or comedians that do dark humour. That tells you everything about the legacy of Black comedy in Canada. It's not that we're not here, it's that we're not noticed." - Coko Galore
"The legacy of Black comedy in Canada is one of growth, I see a lot more younger black comedians like myself coming out of the works, given the opportunity to showcase their talents." - Ola Dada
Present
"Black comedy shouldn't be just what you catch on CBC Radio, or in a comedy special. I'd like to see Black comedians with their own TV shows. Trying to wedge in Black comedy on shows where it doesn't necessarily fit isn't the answer either. I've already named Kenny Robinson as a person I'd love to see more of, but there's also Arthur Simeon, Zabrina Douglas, Aba Amuququandoh, Chris Robinson, Chris Sandiford, Brandon Hackett, Brandon Ash Mohammed, Hoodo Hersi and Tamara Chevon." - Aisha Brown
"There are so many people that I can name that it would be hard to fit them in here, but I have to shout out people like Chris Robinson, Aisha Brown, Brandon Hacket, Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Hoodo Hersi, Aba Amuquandoh and Hisham Kelati. I think we are at a turning point in society and I hope that it reflects in the shows to come and people that I named are given more opportunities because if we are not careful they will leave and have prosperous careers in the USA." - Alan Shane Lewis
"Right now, there are a lot of folx that have worked and grinded for years without much notice. They are finally getting some shine and some love. It's eclectic, it's real, it's strong and it's absolutely funny! We're looking at folx like Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Aba Amuquandoh, Hoodo Hersi, Ajahnis Charley, Tamara Shevon, Coko & Daphney, and more." - Coko Galore
"Yes, there are more Black comedians doing sketch comedy and stand up and improvising than when I started working professionally, but it does still seem like many established live performance companies only like to have one Black performer around at a time (Hi, tokenism!). To combat that, there are more Black performers/producers starting up their own showcases or being put in positions of power, like Coko Galore, who last year was promoted to Artistic and Managing Director of The Bad Dog Theatre or Zabrina Douglas who runs the show 'Things Black Girls Say.' Black women running their own shows is never a bad thing. And Zabrina is a frontline nurse who basically spent last year saving lives, so she deserves all of the good things." - Jamillah Ross
"My opinion on the current state, is that there's such a deep pool of talent just waiting for an opportunity. On This Hour Has 22 Minutes alone you have people like Trent McCellan, Aba Amuquandoh, Aisha Brown and Brandon Ash-Mohammed killing it every week." - Travis Lindsay
"So the current state of Black comedy in Canada is one that I believe is non-existent. I feel like there isn't enough room for people of colour to voice their arts on larger platforms. You know, given that space, I feel like we can really see a boom, a new push inspiring other kids of colour, people of colour to try comedy out for the first time. People who are standing out to me right now? People like Sterling Scott. He started his own record label, his own comedy record label and he's doing a lot of comedy shows online. He's a huge voice for the community in Edmonton." - Ola Dada
Future
"I am very hopeful of what's to come. We've all shared trauma together, had time to reflect and had overdue hard discussions about race, so now going forward you can't pretend that you 'didn't realize' you weren't giving the same opportunities to Black comedians. Having the same one or two minorities in your writers' room doesn't absolve you of your problems. When I see shows like TallBoyz, I get excited because kids who like them will stare up at billboards and say 'Why not me?' and that will encourage another generation of funny people. I would like to be a part of a renaissance of Black Canadian artists because most times I feel artists of colour do not feel represented and end up leaving for greener pastures. This is my home and I'd like to create and share content with my fellow Canadians." - Alan Shane Lewis
"I would like to do interviews where I get to be funny and not just political, and also not just in February. I appreciate the efforts by the media to be inclusive and intersectional. But I'm less appreciative of the box me and other Black Canadians get put in, where our perspective is only asked for on specific race-based topics, at a certain time of the year. I have thoughts on other topics in April too!" - Aisha Brown
"We are so closely affiliated with Black comedians in the United States,that we often get forgotten or lost in the mix. My hope is that Black comedy in Canada can carve out a space for ourselves on the world stage." - Coko Galore
"2020 was a year that saw many comedy institutions rightfully admonished for their treatment of BIPOC performers. Hopefully we can build on that and move forward with this thing called equality. On a personal note, I've always wanted more than two thousand followers on Twitter, so why not follow me @jamillahross and let's make this dream come true!" - Jamillah Ross
"For the future, I hope it continues to grow and evolve and get the recognition it deserves. There are too many funny Black Canadians out there, and I'm certainly proud to be one of them. I hope that one day I'm not pretty much the only working Black stand up comic in the Maritimes. More opportunities would also be a change for the better. And obviously a CBC show starring Brandon Ash-Mohammed and myself needs to happen." - Travis Lindsay
"What I hope for the future in terms of Black comedy in Canada, is more representation in terms of people of colour; it's plain and simple that's pretty much it. You know I just want to see more people like me on stage and on TV. That's pretty much it." - Ola Dada
We are thankful for the perspectives provided by:
Alan Shane Lewis, a comedian, actor and writer based in Toronto, who currently is co-host of the Great Canadian Baking Show.
Aisha Brown, a comedian, writer and actress based in Toronto, has a special available on Crave, Aisha Brown: The First Black Woman Ever,
Coko Galore is currently Artistic and Managing Director of The Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, where she is instrumental in the creation of their YouTube Channel: Bad Dog Comedy TV.
Jamillah Ross, who after getting a job at The Second City in Toronto as a waitress, soon found herself on the mainstage, and now works as an actress, with appearances on Baroness von Sketch Show, The Expanse and Kim's Convenience.
Travis Lindsay hails from Canada's east coast, and has been captivating audiences with his comedy since the early age of 16.
Ola Dada is a Nigerian Canadian, raised in Alberta, and recently placed runner up on Canada's largest comedy competition SiriusXM "Top Comic" (2019). Watch Ola in The New Wave of Standup here on CBC Gem.
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
