Allah Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour (2005) Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert (2008) Allah Made Me Funny - Official Muslim Comedy Show - Live HMV Apollo (2009)
In December 2003, Preacher Moss founded the act[1][2] and made the debut at a club in Washington.[3] In 2004, Azhar Usman joined.[4] In May 2004,[5] Moss, Usman and Azeem Muhammad launched a comedy tour titled 'Allah Made Me Funny'.[6][7][8]
In 2005, Usman explained the rationale behind the troupe's name saying "Well, the word 'Allah'... is actually beautiful. And it is nothing more, nothing less than the Arabic word for God. So Allah Made Me Funny is the Muslim answer to God Made Me Funky."[9] Their show was modeled on Spike Lee's The Original Kings of Comedy.[10]
In November 2006, they toured Australia.[19][20] In April 2007, they performed in UK cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Cardiff and Glasgow.[21] In November that year, they performed in UK cities including London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and Bradford.[22]
2008–present (mainstream success and critical acclaim)
In October 2008, Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert film was released at 15 screens[23] in U.S. cinemas.[11][24][25][26][27][28][29] The documentary/concert film, which was created from the longest-running comedy tour in America,[30] follows Amer, Moss and Usman as they perform at comedy clubs around the country,[2] and mostly features a performance before an audience at the Heritage Forum in Anaheim, California in August 2007.[7][31][32][33] The film pauses between acts to chronicle how they make comedy from their personal experiences as Muslims in post9/11 America, behind-the-scenes footage into the comedians' day-to-day family lives, the work that goes into their show and how they prepare new material.[2][25][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
In September, October and November 2011, they toured the U.S. and UK with their "Word Domination Comedy Tour",[30][46][47] where they performed in cities including Washington DC, Manchester, London, Birmingham and Glasgow.[3]
Allah Made Me Funny have toured in over 30 countries[1] in four different continents.[36] They have been featured reviews and interviews from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time and US television, plus international coverage on the BBC and in The Guardian.[50]
Comedy style and reception
Allah Made Me Funny shows have offered non-Muslims a chance to get to know about Islamic culture and have provided a place where Muslims can gather to share humor about their own lives and experiences.[12][13] Their goal it is to break down racial and cultural stereotypes and foster understanding across cultures, while educating both Muslims and non-Muslims about tolerance and acceptance through comedy and break down barriers no matter what peoples' beliefs or backgrounds are.[22][30]
Whilst on the tour the comedians ensure that their jokes are respectful and do not include sexual references, profanity or backbiting. To ensure that Muslims will be comfortable attending their show, the comedians request that comedy clubs do not serve alcohol or pork, or allow smoking during performances.[12][13][24]
Their routines mostly includes stereotypes, misunderstanding and fear mongering over the Muslim faith in the world today.[34] They talk about being Muslim in America, portraying the challenges and pitfalls, while simultaneously poking fun at Muslims in a light-hearted manner.[11]
The comedians' most popular jokes are about common Muslim stereotypes, with each comedian adding their own ethnic twist.[2] Their routine includes jokes about themselves, their communities, 9/11,[25] customs, religious holidays,[37] family, marriage, popular culture, the government, and the complications of being Muslim in post 9/11 America.[38]
Reviews
"This is where mainstream America meets Islam, not with conflict but with laughter." – BBC News[46][47]
"Allah Made Me Funny is funny...refreshing, respectful, and irreverent look at religion." – The Independent[46][47]
^ abDonadoni, Serena (2008). "Comedy With a Mission". Dispatches. The Cinema Girl. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
^"News". Meem Music. June 15, 2006. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013. The Funniest Muslim Comedy Show - Now Out on DVD
