Why women are struggling in the comedy Industry–Real Warri Pikin

Nigerian Comedian, Anita Asuoha, better known as Real Warri Pikin, has revealed why her female colleagues struggle for fame in the comedy industry.

The dancer and media personality, in a chat with Punch, said a lot of women struggle in the industry because they have accepted the way society is structured.

She then advised women to work twice as hard as their male colleagues to get recognised in the industry.

She said “In any industry that is male-dominated, it is always very hard for females to break through. In this part of the world, women are relegated to getting married and having children. At most, people just expect them to open a supermarket.

“Society does not really support or encourage women who are out there pursuing their dreams. Because of this, women are afraid to come out. And, they start questioning their abilities. During my last show, I performed for one hour at a stretch because I wanted to do something different from what male comedians were doing. I had to do extra.

“A lot of women in the comedy industry are not coming out because they are accepting the way society has been structured. They need to work twice as hard and it is more difficult for married women. I want to prove that a woman can be whatever she wants to be. A woman can be a wife and mother, and still pursue her career.”

Speaking further about her decision to stage her show in Warri and not Lagos, Real Warri Pikin continued “I’m a true daughter of the soil. I was born and brought up in Warri. I had to start from there because that’s where I represent. The experience was a very interesting one.

“It was also quite challenging trying to get everybody (entertainers) to Warri. Considering the fact that it was my first time, I didn’t expect such a large turnout. A day to the event, all tickets were sold out.”