“Being Muslim in Canada” comedy show was held last week at The Theatre Centre in Toronto as part of the launch of Islamic Heritage Month.
The show featured an amazing line-up of brilliant, Toronto-based comedians who identify as Muslims. They shared many stories, thoughts and opinions in a positive, uplifting space where Muslim voices can be heard, supported and celebrated.
Nour Hadidi
The evening was hosted and produced by Arab Canadian stand-up comedian, Nour Hadidi.
You can watch her at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival below:
Nour is a Toronto-based comedian who has been featured locally on the CBC News, FLARE Magazine.
She was also picked as one of four comedians to watch in 2016 by the Toronto Star.
In an interview with She Does the City Nour stated:
“I had produced this show once before in 2017 in the wake of the Quebec Mosque shootings and the Muslim ban. I’d like to say things are easier [now] but they’re not. In April of 2019, I was heckled by an Islamophobe in Kitchener.
It’s the first time I had experienced that in person; it’s much easier for me to disregard an Islamophobic comment on YouTube than to hear it in the middle of a performance….Having to denounce radical Islamic terrorism every five seconds…it’s exhausting and really slows down my punchlines!”
Ali Hassan
The lineup included Pakistani Canadian Ali Hassan who is a stand-up comic, actor and the host of Laugh Out Loud on CBC Radio & SiriusXM. This fall, Ali will be part of the Just for Laughs Live Tour across Canada, hosted by Rick Mercer.
Ali was recently on television in the CBS action series Blood & Treasure. His other credits include: Designated Survivor on ABC and FXX’s Man Seeking Woman. He also created the one-man show Muslim Interrupted.
You can watch his interview on q about the show below:
Hoodo Hersi
Somali Canadian comedian, Hoodo Hersi was also part of the lineup. Hersi is a Toronto-based comedian who is using her talent to clear stereotypes about Muslim communities.
She has performed in clubs and festivals all over Canada and the United States, including the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the BBC World Service Montreal Comedy Show.
In 2018, she was selected as an Audible New Voice at SF Sketchfest. She performed with Hasan Minhaj, Lil Rel Howery, Chris Redd, Gina Yashere and many others.
Hoodo is also one of the CBC’s 15 Comics to Watch in 2019.
You can watch her interview by NDINI below:
Republished with kind permission from Muslim Link