This Review is from August 2024
Njambi McGrath examines the notion of giving – and the Western world’s obsession with charity for Africa.
People give, says the comedian, for various reasons – sympathy, guilt and the avoidance of tax. There are around four thousand international charities in Africa raising money for the provision of water, food, healthcare, and so on. Africa is seemingly bursting Western missionaries, volunteers, and gap year students. There’s apparently no shortage of people attempting to make amends for the wrongs of slavery.
“People want to give to Africans… everything visas and reparations. And Europeans are vehemently opposed to Africans coming to work for them. That’s the attitude you should have had in the 18th century.”
Njambi challenges the negative portrayal of Africa by the West, promulgated by charity campaigns. She argues that this charity is unwanted. At best it’s ineffective, at worst all this fundraising does more harm than good.
There are satirical jokes directed at wealthy philanthropists, the World bank and the British Museum. She pokes fun at churches that raise thousands of pounds to buy hungry people bibles. The comedian describes the weird phenomenon of the old white gramma – rich old ladies that seek sex with fit, young black African men.
The entire relationship between Africa and rich, predominantly white, nations is messed up. Njambi targets her jokes effectively, to help explain what is really going on.
Martin Walker
Podcast interview with Njambi McGrath
Image by Steve Ullathorne
Tickets HERE
Reviews of Njambi McGrath collated by the British Comedy Guide HERE
Njambi’s Profile HERE
