How Nasra Yusuf rose to prominence on Kenya’s comedy scene

Nasra Yusuf, also known as Nasra Comedian, is Kenya's first female Somali comedian. Her rise to fame began with her appearance on the Churchill Show, which aired on one of Kenya’s mainstream TV stations.

She was born in Pangani estate, Nairobi, but she spent her childhood in Mukuru kwa Njenga, one of Nairobi's largest slums, in Embakasi South sub-county.

Nasra, the second child in a three-child household, completed her KCSE exams at Embakasi Girls Secondary School in Mukuru after attending Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School.

She enrolled in Umah University's Diploma in Islamic Studies programme after graduating from high school.

"I wanted to know my religion. I wanted a deep understanding of my religion, and that is why I went to Umah University immediately after high school," she said.

She then enrolled at Mount Kenya University to pursue a degree in Counselling and Psychology. However, she dropped out after two semesters. "I thought now that I was in the limelight, I didn't need to study and I was done with books. I do regret leaving my education," she said.

Her comedic talent was evident in high school when her classmates nicknamed her "Eric Omondi" due to her jokes and comedic flair. Despite her talent, she never imagined comedy would one day become her career.

Nasra auditioned for multiple shows before her appearance on the Churchill Show in 2017 but was repeatedly turned down. Her perseverance and commitment prompted her to join Comedy Arena, a local comedy show that previously aired on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

She competed in Ultimate Comic, a comedy competition hosted by the Churchill Show's host, Daniel Ndambuki. Nasra excelled in this competition, paving the path for her to join the Churchill Show.

"Appearing on TV for the first time was big news for my relatives and me. Every comedian dreams of one day being on that stage," she said.

"Nobody would have taken you seriously as a comedian if you were not on that stage, and for me, it was that moment of ‘I have made it’," she added.

Comedian Nasra Yusuf. (Photo: EV/Ahmed Shafat)

However, Nasra did not get to watch her debut performance on TV at home in Mukuru kwa Njenga because their then-small television had stopped working. She only heard her voice and later watched the show on YouTube.

Her mother and sister supported her though other family members showed little interest in her comedy career.

Nasra credits the Churchill Show for opening up numerous opportunities for her. She recalls meeting prominent figures she admired through the show, describing the experience as surreal.

"There are people I used to see backstage and I used to be like, 'How am I in the same room as this person [sic]?' It was really beautiful," she said.

The show significantly boosted her visibility and garnered her immense support from the Somali community.

Nasra notes that many supported her despite not always understanding her comedy, simply because she was one of their own.

She also received substantial backing from Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki, who frequently encouraged her to overcome obstacles, including cultural stereotypes.

But Nasra has faced intense animosity and criticism from anonymous individuals, which forced her to occasionally step back from the spotlight.

She started a company since the Churchill Show ceased to air and conducts the "modesty show," which focuses on Islamic-compliant modelling.

"It is about making Hijabi models achieve their dreams without going against the teachings of the religion," she explained.

In addition to managing her business, Nasra is a digital content developer, creating hilarious skits for her big social media following.

During this year's Ramadan, she faced backlash for a controversial video about breaking the fast, known as iftar.

In the video, Nasra, acting as a man, is depicted breaking the fast by sleeping with his wife before eating other food. This angered many of her Muslim fans and attracted social media attention.

Nasra responded to that video by stating that she did not aim to offend her community but would continue to create content, knowing that she could not please everyone.

In addition to her content creation, Nasra engages in brand endorsements and advertisements, which have been financially rewarding.

Nasra married Director Rashid in April 2021, after knowing him for more than five years. Some community members criticised the marriage, claiming that she should have married a Somali instead. This caused her to lose some family and friends.

"I know I am not supposed to be married to a non-Muslim but that guy was a Muslim and I was okay with it," she stated.

The pair shared a YouTube account where they posted mutual content, which received a lot of attention and some criticism from people who opposed their marriage.

However, in November 2022, Nasra announced her separation from Rashid on Instagram without any explanation.

On June 22, Nasra will play host to a significant event called Somali Comedy Night. Along with other comedians, the evening will include well-known Somali performers like Suldan Seerar, Hani UK, and Hariir Ahmed.

"I want to awaken the artistic spirit in the Somali community, which has been dormant for a while," she said.

As she continues her mission to spread humour and joy to a broad audience, she hopes to delight thousands of followers from the Somali community and other Kenyans.