Show Me The Funny!

Let it be known that the UK Urban comedy scene is well and truly on the rise. In recent years a few successful black comedy nights have sprung up around the country. One of the major players on the scene is comedian John Simmit and his Upfront Comedy Organisation. He followed the path set by presenter/comedian Kojo’s Da Comedy Fun House and he innovated by developing a nationwide University comedy tour taking place courtesy of entertainment organisers Dem Boyz Ent.
It really is only a matter of time until the television and wider comedy industries stand up, take note and lend support. In celebration of the new future of funny men (and women) TOUCH brings you four young talents. They’re the newest generation of rising stars, who we tip to take their Urban comedy to new heights. Allow me to introduce to you…Eddie Kadi, Funmbi, Jamie and Willis.


Eddie Kadi
His chosen tagline: Fantaaastic! My comedy’s fun. Animated, crazy, comedy, which is also family orientated.

What’s the key to comedy?
You have to have ‘you’, don’t watch other people’s jokes and think ‘that is the formula to comedy’, because it’s not.

In a group scenario, does your humour always steal the limelight?
That’s a fantastic question. My friends crack me up. I have this one friend who makes me laugh to the point of crying. And he’s not cracking joke, he’s telling me something that happened to him last night or about his parents and I think I wish I could tell this story on stage, but I don’t make a habit of picking up a pen and writing it all down, because we’re just cracking jokes.

Do you watch mainstream comedy?
This might be surprising, but I really like Jonathan Ross and Lee Evans. Lee Evans is the guy I attempt to be like in terms of animation when I’m on stage. He can tell you a story and act five different people at the same time. Jonathan Ross I like because I look at myself more as a presenter in terms of comedy. Then somebody like Will Smith I like for being universal.

You reference African culture a lot in your sets…why?
I look at it as my duty I try to reach out to a lot of people as well. But I don’t just do comedy for the sake of doing comedy; I do comedy to educate people. I want people to understand a lot more about my culture than just pot-bellies and people suffering and Oxfam adverts. I want people to see that we do have culture and you can embrace it and learn new things about Africa.

Funmbi
His chosen tagline:
The number-one show stopper

What’s your unique selling point?
It’s hard to answer. I think I really put myself into my comedy, it’s not about doing
one-liners and gags, I use real experiences and people can relate to me more.

Most memorable show?
The show at UCL (University College London) was big. Every show is special in some way, but this particular one, I was really nervous and just had to psych myself up to do well. The audience were loving it; I got a roar of applause and just stopped there and left them wanting more.

Most hostile crowd?
Nigerians! (Lets out a hearty laugh), one time they heckled me. Why? Because they can be arrogant! It’s all love though ‘cause I’m still smashing shows (This might be a good time to mention that Funmbi is in fact Nigerian!)

You’ve had a successful TV show right?
Yep yep! It’s Real on BEN TV. I enjoyed TV, but I probably find stand-up more challenging, because with the stage you have one chance to deliver, you can’t do a thousand takes like with sketches. There’s such a buzz from being on stage, I could stay there the whole day.

Jamie
His chosen tagline: Some people discover the Universe, I get lost on my way to the shops. I think that sums me up.

How important is comedy timing?
The ability to tell the joke is crucial. For example Bob Hope, who is meant to be one of the best comedians ever didn’t write his own jokes, but he had great comedy timing and so the people who wrote for him knew that he’d deliver it well.

What’s the winning formula for your jokes?
I like telling jokes that shock people, because the comedy stage is the one stage where you can pretty much say what you want. I like writing jokes that people have to think about and it’s challenging to write clever jokes. I know some people like toilet humour, which I like too, but I’d rather my toilet humour was clever as well.

Joker, King of Hearts or Ace of Spades?
Joker, cause that’s what people identify me as, he’s the silly one. In my group of friends there’s the good-looking one who gets all the women, I just tell them jokes and he takes them. I’m single by the way.

Do you agree with the myth that girls aren’t funny?
No. Some of my favourite comedians are female: Jo Brand, Ellen Degeneres, writers like Jennifer Saunders and Victoria Wood are amazing and Katherine Tate’s funny as well. I think men get given more opportunities and I think a lot of women let the men have their moment of fame and are content to let the men be the funny ones when really they're funnier. They don’t want to dent our man-pride.

Your fave jokes?
My favourite jokes are ones that I don’t tell on stage because they’re too silly.

1.    What are the strongest type of robbers?….shoplifters
2.    How many Goths does it take to change a light bulb?…none. Darkness rules
3.    Where would you find a tortoise with no arms and legs?…exactly where you left it!


Willis
His chosen tagline: Not a class clown, more of a comical genius.

Most difficult aspect of comedy?
When I’m in my bedroom it’s completely different to when I’m on stage and it’s sometimes frustrating to be able to bring that to the stage and not hold back. It’s all about acknowledging my surroundings, but I’m trying to get to that place where I don’t give a toss.

Have you really got a gay uncle in Jamaica who tried to hit on you? (one of Willis’ most popular jokes)
I think he’s gay, he hasn’t come out yet properly but he’s not like any of my other uncles…I do like to definitely play on reality, which makes it a bit funnier.

What do you bring to the table?
Basically, I’m not dumb, I am actually a University student studying Business and Economics, I don’t want to be that stupid comedian, but make it intellectual as well.

Where do you see yourself in coming years?
I want to be a big name in the circuit. I don’t particularly want to do presenting or anything like that, unless it’s presenting comedy. My heart is in comedy; whatever I do should be comedic, no serious acting for me just yet. Even though I’m studying and looking to do a Masters when I finish, I don’t want to be in a 9-5 ‘til I’m 65.