Londoner Wins Edinburgh Comedy Award

Ayoade Bamgboye, a London-based comedian with roots in Lagos, achieved a significant milestone at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer by winning the prestigious best newcomer award. This victory marked her as the first Black woman to receive this accolade, a career-changing event that has propelled her into the spotlight. Her debut show, "Swings and Roundabouts," masterfully wove together themes of language, family, and her cross-cultural identity, resonating deeply with audiences.

Bamgboye's comedic approach is characterized by a thoughtful exploration of language and a dynamic performance style that shifts between sophisticated English and Nigerian-inflected speech. This reflects her upbringing, which involved periods spent between Lagos and a boarding school in the Lake District. The show, while touching on difficult subjects like grief over her father's passing, ultimately offers a joyful and unpredictable experience, aiming for a 'controlled chaos' that engages and surprises attendees.

Having previously worked as an assistant to director Yorgos Lanthimos on "Poor Things," Bamgboye is now fully immersed in her comedy career. She is developing new material, focusing on small talk and drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including Jack Black, Maya Rudolph, and Chris Morris. She views her current phase as a new beginning, feeling like a guest eager to explore the long-term possibilities within the comedy industry.