The comedic art of living a double life | Ola Labib | TEDxPatras

In her talk at TEDxPatras, Ola Labib discusses how she built her own bridge through stand-up comedy, using humor as a tool to connect diverse cultures and address social inequalities. Ola Labib emphasizes that laughter and comedy help us share experiences and realize our similarities. By reducing tension, humor creates a safe space for dialogue, fostering understanding across different backgrounds. She describes her personal "architecture" of bridging, underpinned by her identity and supported by her community, which sustains her during challenging times. This metaphorical construction not only supports her but also connects her with broader communities, demonstrating the resilience and balance in her approach to bridging gaps through comedy.
Ola Labib is one of the leading breakout comedians taking the UK comedy circuit by storm. Being the only black, Muslim, female Sudanese performing comedy in the UK, the talented artist offers a unique insight into her traditional African Islamic upbringing through comedy. On a mission to smash stereotypes, Ola has performed at leading comedy venues, including The Comedy Store, Hot Water and The Frog and Bucket and has appearances on shows, such as BBC’s Funny Festival Live, Yesterday, Today & The Day Before and The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan.
As a big fan of the industry heavyweights Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais, Ola takes inspiration from the legendary comedians in her performances and is mentored by the award-winning creator Danielle Scott-Haughton, who has helped her develop as a comedian.
In addition to her comedy work, Ola has made an appearance on the CBBC show The Dog Ate My Homework, she has contributed to documentary projects for Afromic and hosts the weekly online series ‘Would You Rather’, known for making even the most collected guests sweat from her animated and cheeky content. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx