When stars like X-Factor UK alumni Alexandra Burke and Misha B descend on London’s Hackney Empire this weekend it will be to celebrate Kojo Akoto-Anim’s birthday as well as a homecoming of sorts for the British-Ghanaian comedian.
Kojo, ‘The Fresh Prince of Hackney’, turns 32 and will mark the occasion by taping his first ever DVD “Live N Kicking” at the Hackney Empire on Jan 20th & 21st, and we have a pair of tickets for the Friday show to give away to one lucky This Is Africa visitor. Details at the end of this post.
Kojo’s new show comes after a 5-year hiatus during which he nabbed his first film role in Noel Clarke’s forthcoming romantic comedy The Knot, landed his own comedy series on MTV Base and became the host of London’s leading breakfast radio show.
Both of his previous Hackney runs were sold-out affairs, as was his performance at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2011. The man’s got it!
In his 11 years as a stand up comedian, Kojo has performed worldwide alongside heavyweights including Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Michael McIntyre and Eddie Griffin. A semi-finalist in the NBC show Last Comic Standing, his gig hosting the first ever Def Comedy Jam Tour caught the attention of multi-media mogul Russell Simmons: “This guy has the same passion and energy of a young Chris Rock”.
Since the start of comedy career, some things have changed while some have stayed the same in the city the son of Ghanaian immigrants calls home. Live 'N' Kicking will include his signature quick-fire punch lines on the UK capital's dating scene, being raised in foster care, the likelihood of a black prime minister and the London riots. He says: "I'm one of many urban voices that need to be heard as the things politicians ignore are the things we've had to make jokes out of to stop us going crazy!"
Now, having written his first feature movie titled The Weekend, Kojo is a step closer to another one of his life ambitions: “One day my dream job would be to direct movies and head up a TV station and deliver shows I think this country is missing.”
Live 'N' Kicking will be recorded live at the Hackney Empire Jan 20th & 21st, with the DVD released at the end of 2012 by Revolver Entertainment. Be a part of it.
UPDATE: 20th Jan.
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Teena D. Lutterodt (Luton Town, Bedfordshire) and her sister. And thanks to everyone else who wrote in. We wish we had tickets for you all. Better luck next time, eh?
HOW TO ENTER
Send an email to info@thisisafrica.me with the answer to the following question:
At which radio station does Kojo have a breakfast show?
Subject field: I wanna see Kojo at the Hackney Empire!
Please include your full name and telephone number in the body of the email, as well as your city of residence. [Note: This giveaway is only open to UK residents, and to non-residents who will be in the UK on the 20th anyway].
We’ll pick a winner at random on Friday morning and e-mail with the good news.
Good luck, everyone!
KOJO LINKS
Twitter
Facebook
Official site
