Popular Ghanaian comedian Musah Junior, widely known as MJ the Comedian, is redefining how people perceive comedy, emphasizing that it takes intelligence, skill, and professionalism to excel in the craft.
Appearing on Channel One TV’s ‘The Chat’, MJ passionately explained that comedy is far more than just telling jokes, it’s an intricate art form requiring wit, timing, and resilience.
Recalling his first stand-up show, ‘My Missing Tooth’, MJ shared how he transformed a personal tragedy, a tooth lost in an accident, into a humorous narrative. “There is comedy in everything,” he remarked. “If it’s not your job, you won’t find the humour in a tragic situation, like I did when I lost my tooth. That’s why I say comedy isn’t for fools.”
MJ dismissed stereotypes that comedians are “unserious” or merely entertainers without depth. He highlighted the challenges of keeping an audience consistently engaged, saying, “You can make a crowd laugh once, but try it again and you’ll see, it takes professionalism to maintain the magic.”
The comedian likened comedy to other performance arts like football or music, where setbacks are inevitable. “There will be days when the audience doesn’t laugh. If you’re not professional, how do you recover and keep going?” he asked.
Concluding his remarks, MJ underscored the sophistication behind crafting and delivering humour. “Comedy is for intelligent people who understand the craft,” he said.
