Ghanaian comedian and TV personality Derick Kobina Bonney, popularly known as DKB, has shed light on the challenges facing Ghana’s stand-up comedy scene, pointing to a lack of public support and industry appreciation as major obstacles.
Appearing as a guest on *The Real Talk Podcast* hosted by Elizabeth Essuman, DKB joined a panel of entertainment commentators in a deep dive into the highs and lows of the comedy industry.
The conversation touched on the emotional toll of performing, the vulnerability behind laughter, and what it takes to succeed in comedy in Ghana.
During the discussion, DKB opened up about a particularly difficult period in his career, citing online abuse and industry blacklisting as personal setbacks.
“There was a time for straight two years, I was receiving insults, threats and so much more at about every twenty minutes in my DMs. I thank God that I never went into depression. I lost gigs, shows alike, I was blacklisted by an event company in Ghana, amongst other things, for me expressing how I was treated,” he said.
Often referred to as the ‘King of Ghana Comedy’, DKB also had some words of advice for aspiring comedians.
“For persons who have the intention to go into comedy, or let’s say have the passion to become a comedian, you must have endless source of contents as in jokes, you need to have a top notch leadership and public relations skills, to survive the tides. Also you must be conscious enough to be able to distinguish your stage-life from your personal life,” he said.
Click here to watch the full video: https://youtu.be/mIM5nkIRxpk?si=rw-QIACqopGrLuR0
BY BERNARD KAFUI
