Episode 2: Irreverent Humor: Coping with COVID across Africa

In this episode, LAC members Irenae Aigbedion and Tembi Charles speak with Dr. Sinfree Makoni (Penn State) and Dr. Bassey Antia (University of the Western Cape) on their current project, “Humor as a Semiotic Resource: Coping with Covid-19 Stress in Africa.” The conversation branches out from a close examination of their work to a reflection on the ways that humor can be a tool to “speak back” to power, to critique histories of colonialism, and to shape a new identity for Africa itself. Humor becomes a critical tool to navigate the unique social pressures we are currently facing.