As part of Rosslyn Hill Chapel's 'Celebrating Black Lives' series,
this month we celebrate a British-Nigerian comedian, actress, and writer, Gina Yashere.
Gina Yashere is a British-Nigerian comedian, actress, and writer known for her sharp wit, outspoken personality, and groundbreaking comedy. Born in London to Nigerian immigrant parents, Yashere initially worked as an elevator engineer before pursuing comedy full-time.
Her career took off with appearances on British television, including The Lenny Henry Show and Mock the Week, showcasing her humor around race, identity, and social issues. Yashere moved to the U.S. in 2007 to expand her career, becoming a regular on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and eventually joining The Daily Show as a correspondent.
In 2019, she co-created the CBS sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola with Chuck Lorre, making her one of the first Black British women to create and write for an American sitcom. The show has been widely praised for its authentic portrayal of Nigerian culture and experiences, much of which is inspired by Yashere's own life and heritage.
Known for her trailblazing spirit and boundary-pushing comedy, Yashere has become a celebrated voice in both British and American entertainment.
“On my deathbed, there will be no regrets. I’m going to be like, ‘I tried everything. I know I failed at some things, but at least I gave it a shot."
“A professional troublemaker is somebody who makes their own path. They keep kicking doors open.”
Each month we mark the significant life of a person of colour as a positive statement and a contribution to redressing historical imbalances in our society. More profiles.
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