Why It’s So Difficult Being Woman Comedian In Nigeria – Real Warri Opens Up

Nigerian comedian Real Warri Pikin is one of the only mainstream female standup comedians right now in the nation, and by far one of the most successful.

In a new interview with Channels Television, Real Warri Pikin opens up about why there are so few female standup comedians, and why it is such a difficult industry for women to get into. Here’s what Real Warri Pikin had to say.

Speaking of why it’s so difficult for women in the stand-up comedy industry, Real Warri Pikin said:

REAL WARRI PIKIN: There are not many women that are doing standup comedy right now. I can actually count them. When I did my show in Abuja last year, I was like “no female comedian?” So I did a post on my page and said, “if you know any female comedian wey good, tag am” and I was shocked. I saw a lot of people tagged and I reached out to them via their DMs. It was only a few of them that had videos of themselves doing standup here and there. I had conversations with them and they will tell you, it’s a male dominated industry. It is hard.

For woman to dey male dominated industry, you need to work twice as hard before they go come talk say na because you fine na why you funny. So I started having conversations with them, talking to them. It’s not easy for this male dominated industry, but you need to know the craft, and you need to be very strategic. I feel like for more female comedians to fill up the space, we need more encouragement.

I remember when I won standup comedian of the year, no be small curse them curse me for comment section, and if other female comedians see those comments, they will go back to their shell. There are a lot of very funny female comedians but there are a lot of factors. First, you’re a woman. For you to be woman for this part of the world, the world don give you 1-0. And then the society, and then there’s how people see women.

Even till now, I still get it, as big as I am. You just need to ojiri as a woman. When you don understand the dynamics around the industry, you need to chop ojiri tell yourself all die na die. I must do it regardless.

Source:Jide Okonjo

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com