Know How To Cross Boundaries - Jerry Ashinyo Tells Comedians

Ghanaian comedian Jerry Ashinyo says there are no fixed boundaries in comedy, but comedians must understand how to approach sensitive subjects.

Jerry said comedians often face criticism when jokes touch on personal, political or cultural issues but believes the way a joke is delivered can determine how audiences receive it.

“There is no line that cannot exactly be crossed. It is how you cross it. It is how you say, how you put it,” he said.

He said some audiences have criticised him for the level of detail in his descriptions and choice of words, but he remains comfortable with that approach.

Jerry recalled an incident involving Ghanaian music duo Lali X Lola after he made jokes about them during a comedy club performance.

He said the comments were made while he was improvising and were later posted on TikTok. Some social media users criticised him, although he said he did not intend the comments to be taken seriously.

The comedian also spoke about political comedy in Ghana, saying comedians have to be careful because political supporters can take jokes about their preferred parties personally. He advised comedians who make political jokes to be prepared for reactions from supporters of the parties they target.

Jerry said comedians also face tensions within the industry, including disagreements over jokes and competition between performers.

However, he said comedians regularly joke about each other and use those interactions to develop material. He believes audiences are gradually becoming more receptive to different forms of stand-up comedy in Ghana.

According to Jerry, comedians should be able to experiment with difficult subjects while understanding that not every joke will appeal to every person.