Stand-up comic Faris Hytiaa is shedding new light on his Sudanese heritage on national comedy tour “Homesick.”
His latest material touches on Sudanese life giving Western audiences an entry point into a country Hytiaa says many consider to be “dark.”
“You’re working with people’s preconceptions. You’re working with what they were taught before they met you,” Hytiaa says.
He discusses the advantages of merging comedy with more serious commentary and the impression this leaves audiences with. “I think that’s kind of the beauty of comedy is when you can make these things funny, that’s how we can bridge these gaps. That’s how we can get people to care in a lot of ways that otherwise.”
Hytiaa also touches on the cancellation of the Just for Laughs’ comedy festivals in Montréal and Toronto this year and what that means for Canadian comics going forward.
