From culture shock to comedy success

LEAVING her homeland in Africa to move to Australia after her mum married an Australian man when she was seven was a huge shock to the system for Anisa Nandaula.

She didn’t understand the slang in the school playground, the culture or the way of life.

But the Uganda-born comedian said the move helped shape her identity and gave her a unique perspective on the world.

“I stand in a very unique position where I understand the African, Muslim perspective but also the Australian one,” she said.

“I feel like as a result you can put me in front of anyone and I can connect with them.”

Now based in Brisbane, Nandaula first found her voice through poetry.

While performing in 2020, a man in the audience told her she was funny and needed to start doing stand-up comedy.

He bombarded her with messages until she finally gave it a go.

Since then, she has opened for American comedian Chelsea Handler and twice sold out the main theatre at Brisbane Powerhouse.

 

Most recently, she appeared on Urzila Carlson’s ABC comedy show.

Her coming show at Geelong Arts Centre, No Small Talk, feels like catching up with an old friend, diving straight into the interesting topics with hard-hitting punchlines, all delivered with a warm smile.

“I want people to know I’m going to tell you exactly what’s happening in my life,” Nandaula said.

“I tell you personal stories about my family, my job and my relationship.”

A large portion of the show centres on a recent trip to Kenya, her first time returning to Africa in 15 years.

“I went back to Africa with my Australian boyfriend and ironically he did more research than me,” she said.

“So, an Australian took me to Africa to show me around. From being up close to lions in a kill to meeting Masai warriors, the trip filled me with stories.”

No Small Talk is at Geelong Arts Centre on 27 June.

For more information and tickets, visit geelongartscentre.org.au