Comedy Is Full of Contradictions -Comedienne, Erowole Gbemisola Dama

 Fast rising comedienne and fashion designer, Erowole Gbemisola Dama never planned to be a comedian. When she left Lagos State a couple of years ago, her dreams had been to pursue a nursing career in the USA. However, she ended up a comedienne and a fashion designer, and aside performing live at TNI Radio in USA, she has a group called; Erinkeekeee Advance Unifercity on social media network, Facebook which is strictly for matured mind and responsible people. The delectable owner and CEO of Gbemmy Couture, a fashion outfit, was born in Lagos to an Abeokuta, Ogun State indigene mother and Warri Delta State Father.

In this chat with Adeyemi Matthew, the America-based, Nigeria-born comedienne and fashion designer talks about her passion for comedy and fashion.

How many comedy show have you had or participated in

Many, but to mention a few, I  perform on TNI Radio here in USA on social networks like Facebook through a group called Erinkeekee Advance Unifercity of which I’m the Oluko Agba  (Vice Chancellor) of the Campus etc.

What’s ErinkeekeeAdvance Unifercity all about and how did you come about that name

Erinkeekee Advance Unifacity is a social group for matured minds and responsible people on Facebook. As the name implies, Erinkeekee ‘Laugh it out loud and forget your sorrow’. The Unifacity is not for lilly minded people that cannot endure expensive jokes. Creative jokes are being cracked on current issues as it affects our individual daily life on this platform. The bottom line is to make you laugh and get relieved from any stress and worries.

What comes to your mind when you set out to make people laugh

Fun. Just to have fun.  Though trying to prove the beneficial effects of laughter is tough since everyone defines and reacts to humor differently, and the physical responses based on laughter can mimic similar behaviors like talking or screaming. Also, the subject of laughter as medicine hasn't elicited many large-scale studies thus far. However, existing research gives us hope that our old knock-knock jokes aren't just making people feel better; they actually are making them better.

What is funny

Comedy is not a science, it's an art. Therefore there are no rules and it can be very subjective. What one person finds funny another might cringe at.

One thing worth noting is that when analysing comedy and what is funny, it is almost like it is only visible out of the corner of your eye. As soon as you try and look directly at it and analyse it too much. all of the funniness disappears...

Why do we find things funny, and why does this reaction force us to convulse and make that noise

I have no idea. There is no simple answer to why something is funny... Something is funny because it captures a moment, it contains an element of simple truth, it is something that we have always known for eternity and yet hear loud now for the first time.

I think that our need to feel intelligent comes into play a lot in finding things funny... maybe humour is actually the overwhelming joy at feeling intelligent. Somebody tries to put on their shoes standing up and falls over in the process. They look foolish, we therefore feel intelligent as we are not the one falling over trying to put on shoes.  We laugh.

Someone makes a clever joke and only a few people get it. If we get the joke, we recognise the person as being clever and feel clever ourselves as we understood the concept. We laugh.

Comedy is full of opposites and contradictions.

Who is a comedian

A comedian develops a unique style, skill, and body of work as an entertainer, a professional entertainer who tells jokes or performs various other comic acts. Comedians get a thrill from making people laugh.

Do you think comedic abilities are something someone either has or doesn’t or something that can be learned

Comedic ability is a special gift from God, which flows freely from the inside out. Some people learn it and with a lot of dedication and hard work, they become very good comedians.

Is there anything you have on your Bucket List-whether personal or career - something in your life that you want to have or do that has yet to be accomplished

Yes, I have a lot in my Bucket List, but I don’t wish to let the cat out of the bag for now. lol!

Anyway, just a tip of the ice berg, we have plans to take Erinkeeke Mature Unifecity, a social media network group on Facebook, where I am the Oluko Agba, to a greater height.

What of challenges of being a female comedian

No challenges at all because I see them as opportunities to excel.

Have you ever played a role in a movie

I’ve not played any role in the movie industry.

You have a unique sense of dressing; are you planning to become a designer

I am a designer. Apart from my English wears, I design my native attires myself under my label name Gbemmy’s Couture. At Gbemmy’s Couture, we make our customers look good and confident, the way they dress is our utmost priority because you will surely be addressed the way you dressed.

We are into all types of trendy native attires with shoes, bags and accessories to go with, we design for all classes of individual at a very affordable price.

What is your definition of fashion

Fashion and fashion trends mainly refers to anything, which is popular in a culture at any given time. It is inclusive of areas such as style of dress, cuisine, literature, art, architecture, fashion trends and many other popular factors. Fashion trends often change rapidly, and "fashion" is often used to describe the latest version of these trends.

The terms "fashionable" and "unfashionable" are used to illustrate whether or not someone or something fits in with the current fashion trend or even a certain type of popular mode of expression. The term "fashion" is often used in a positively as a synonym for style, glamour and beauty.

This term does not just define all the latest or the most popular or the most famous clothes. In reality, this social phenomenon involves more importance. In some way, fashion helps us to show who we are and depict our personality in terms of visual information. In the way we choose clothes, we show our attitude to the world and other people, it is also some kind of communication. We put some of our personality at everything, how we behave at different situations, what we eat and which style of clothes we choose at shops. All the parts build the main stream of fashion. But in spite of our personality, all of us have something in common even if it’s the smallest thing. All over the world, there are a lot of people who have the same taste, who choose the same food and trousers of the same kind. There are a lot of traits which build the fashion of today.

Can you tell us about your background

My growing up as a child was very good and none of my parents was a comedian. I was born in Lagos State in Nigeria to Mr. and Mrs. Ayodele Dama. My mummy is from Abeokuta in Ogun State, while my daddy is from Warri in Delta State. My mummy was a Secretary at the Ministry of Water Corporation in Lagos and she was also a designer, while my daddy is a business man.

I attended Eleja Primary School, Ebute Metta Lagos, Nigeria from there, I went to Mary Wood Grammar School Iponri Lagos, Nigeria, then I moved to Baltimore Community College in USA, where I studied nursing.

Who is your role model

My role model is Opray Gail Winfrey. She is my role model because I so much admire her humble beginning. Despite all the challenges she encountered while growing up, she held on to her dreams and her talk show became a huge success and this serves as a source of strength to me.

What’s the craziest thing a fan has done to you

Sharing my picture on Facebook and giving comments that are not pleasant.

What do you do in your spare time?

Shopping. I love shoes.

What should your fans be expecting from you

More crazy and trend setting jokes.

If you could give one last bit of advice, inspiration, or encouragement to creative and wonderful women, your fan, what would it be

Love your neighbor as yourself. Show love, give love and expect nothing in return. I believe in love, but I believe that love is good when you find somebody that loves himself. Any man that loves himself is capable of being a good man to love.

September 02, 2013