Humor as Social Critique

"This volume breaks ground in its contribution to humor studies, African studies, and the study of social critique. From the realm of political satire to alternative therapy, Jennalee Donian and Andrea Hurst present humor as deeply transformative, generating profound insight into ethical, cultural, and political problems, by introducing us to Africa’s complex social landscapes. Everyday life comes alive through the interesting insights, the unusual perspectives, and the myriad ways in which the powers of humor are shown by the contributors of this very readable and pleasurable collection." * Lydia Amir, Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University, US *
“This book is an insightful contribution to the growing corpus of studies on humor in Africa, which is known for its diverse, geographical, and disciplinary perspectives. Donian and Hurst’s painstaking efforts in collecting this wide range of essays on different forms of humor confirm Africa’s cultural heterogeneity in humor production, consumption, and dissemination. This book is a must read for those interested in learning about humor practices and understanding. The editors have curated a work that caters to the need for information, education, knowledge, and more importantly, humor, making this work enriching and rewarding for all readers.” * Izuu Nwankwo, Assistant Professor of Drama, Theatre, and Performance, University of Toronto, CA *