Caribbean Comedy Night Wins Over Crowd

By Rodney Carmichael

Many years ago, I lost my taste for stand-up comedy, so my enthusiasm wasn’t especially high going in. Still, I answered the call to attend the Nyam Comedy Fundraiser for Rhoma Spencer’s Fringe play, Danse Macabre, on March 14 in Scarborough.

The brainchild of Spencer, Nyam Comedy is a dinner comedy show serving Caribbean humour alongside Caribbean cuisine. Since its debut at the Spade Bar and Lounge in July 2023, it has steadily built a following in Scarborough, drawing a mix of Gen Z and older audiences who appreciate its distinct cultural flavour.

From the start, I had to set aside some of my usual reservations about comedy shows. As host, Spencer quickly warmed up the room, opening with a lively set that helped settle the audience and set the tone for the evening. The crowd was clearly ready to enjoy Caribbean comedy in its many forms.

After a satisfying dinner, the audience, largely what this generation calls “big people,” settled in for an evening of gyaf, fatigue, picong, and pasa pasa, all rooted in the oral traditions of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

The room reflected a broad cross-section of the Caribbean diaspora, including attendees from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, and beyond. Their laughter came easily and often

Next up was Enoje Ozjam, who wove her recent 20th wedding anniversary into her set. Her laid-back delivery carried some well-timed punches that resonated, especially with the married couples in the audience.

Closing the first half was Trini-Canadian comic Jean Paul, whom I knew of by reputation. His set leaned into the contrasts between his Caribbean upbringing and his experience raising children in Canada, a theme that connected well with the crowd. Like Spencer, he delivered his material with confidence and kept the audience engaged throughout.

By this point, I was fully drawn in. Spencer’s strengths as a storyteller and performer were evident, and she anchored the evening effectively. I’ve seen her on stage before, and she continues to show a natural ease in that space.

The show then shifted gears with musical guest Bill Newman, the reigning Canadian Calypso Monarch known as “The Crooner.” He performed three selections, including “The Purse,” a humorous take on a familiar relationship dynamic, as well as “Toronto Too Cold for Me” and his 2025 winning song, “51st State.” Newman also showed a knack for comedy, briefly stepping into a stand-up segment that landed particularly well with the Guyanese audience.

Overall, the Nyam Comedy Fundraiser delivered an enjoyable mix of food, music, and humour. Hopefully, it also succeeded in raising funds for Spencer’s upcoming Toronto Fringe production of Danse Macabre. More information can be found through the Canadian-Caribbean Arts Network.

In the end, the audience left with a noticeable lift in spirits, having shared an evening of good food, community, and laughter—enough, perhaps, to soften even my long-standing hesitation about standup comedy.

Rodney is a retired Librarian and carnivalist.

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