‘When we started, people said we weren’t funny’ - James Brown speaks on journey

Ghanaian comedian James Brown has recounted the challenges that characterised the early days of his career, expressing excitement about the growth and recognition the comedy industry is currently enjoying.

In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie at Lekzy DeComic’s solo stand-up special titled “Lekzy Unleashed: The Godfathers Edition”, James Brown reflected on how the industry has evolved over the years, noting that comedians were not taken seriously when they started.

According to him, the situation has changed significantly, with younger comedians such as Lekzy, OB and Jacinta now staging shows outside Ghana and gaining international recognition.

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“They graduated me without my knowledge, but I’m just happy to see the industry at this level because when we started, there was a bit of some wig, and even comics were not funny. But I’m happy to see the likes of OB and Jacinta doing shows abroad. Me too, sometimes when they give me a visa.

“No, it was a horror story. I actually never thought I’d see this. I had hope that this would happen, but I’m glad I’ve been able to see it in my lifetime, still in my youth, and I’m just happy that we are at this level. More things to come now. Give us money, sponsor us,” he said.

James Brown further expressed happiness that industry pioneers are now being recognised while they are still alive, unlike the previous culture where tributes and honours were often reserved for people after their death.

He mentioned veteran entertainers such as KSM, the Honourable Fritz Baffour and Tommy Annan-Forson as some of the personalities whose contributions shaped the industry and inspired younger comedians.

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He also called for increased financial support and sponsorship to help sustain the industry’s growth and create more opportunities for emerging talents.

“I’m also quite glad that we are recognising people before they leave. We had this culture of, we wait for you to die and then, but now we still have guys we looked up to when we were kids.

“We have KSM, the Honourable Fritz Baffour, Tommy Annan-Forson. We all grew up on these guys, and we are recognising them now, and I’m very happy that they can see what their struggle has yielded,” he added.

Watch the video below:

'I am just happy to see the comedy industry at this level. When we started, people said we weren't funny' - Comedian James Brown speaks at Leaky De Comic's stand-up special.

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