RESUME
about me
Height: 5"03 | Eye Colour: Brown | Hair Colour: Brown
‘A must see’ THE SCOTSMAN | ‘Trail blazing’ THE GUARDIAN |‘An Important voice’, The Sunday Times
Njambi McGrath is a Kenyan born, UK based comedian. She is a rising comedy star. She is the writer and star of the Radio 4 hit Series Njambi McGrath: Becoming Njambi. When it aired, it was chosen for BBC Radio 4 Comedy of the week. Njambi is also an accomplished author with her book shortlisted as one of the Twentyin2020 writers announced in the Guardian 2019. Her critically acclaimed memoir Through The Leopards Gaze optioned for a 6 part TV drama series. David Lammy MP said, “Written with poetic fortitude, Through The Leopard’s Gaze reveals that the hardest part of survival is not the experience of violence but the pressure you feel to make sense of it. Bravely sharing her own attempt to confront the past, Njambi McGrath’s memoir is a stunning portrayal of human brutality and human resistance – heart-breaking and empowering in equal measure.” BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends described it as ‘Beautifully written’.
Away from writing, Njambi is an accomplished comedian with a successful Soho theatre run, seven one woman Edinburgh Festival shows and four filmed comedy specials. She was crowned winner of 2019 prestigious Hackney empire NATYS Award joining the ranks of previous winners like Stewart Lee and Lee Mack.
She is a “compelling voice of a rarely heard African perspective’ FestMag. Njambi’s 2019 Edinburgh show Accidental Coconut, was a satirical examination of striking parallels between the Brexit rhetoric mimicking the struggles of those who fought for independence from Britain. Described as ‘nothing short of ground-breaking’ Banbury Magazine, and ‘a unique voice with deliciously tart lines’ Evening Standard. Accidental Coconut was featured on BBC Two’s Edinburgh Nights and BBC Radio 4 Extra Stand ups.
Her current stand up show Black Black, she is s comparison of her grandmother’s life under imperialist Britain, with the rise of Nazism and fascism to her own political climate with Nazism, fascism on the rise. Her previous shows Breaking Black and African in New York – Almost Famous and Accidental Coconut were filmed comedy specials available on Next Up, Amazon Prime and Trains.
She was in the original line up of the (ARIA) Radio Awards hit BBC World comedy show ‘New Year’s International Comedy Celebration. Since her debut in 2010, she was voted 1 of 5 top up and coming female comedians 2012 by Fabulous magazine barely 14 months later. She was shortlisted for the BBC Radio New Comedy Awards x 2 a year later.
Njambi guested shows like BBC Two Edinburgh Nights, BBC One’s Sunday Live, Channel 4 News. Njambi’s been a guest on countless BBC guest shows including Front Row, A good Read, Saturday Live, Loose Ends and BBC World service. She has been profiled in the National press in the UK(Evening Standard, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, The Scotsman), Kenya (Daily Nation), South Africa and Nigeria. She’s also a political commentator with appearances on Channel 4 and BBC One.
Writing
Njambi is the author of Through the Leopard’s Gaze and is currently working on her second book and contributor to HuffPost, Glam Africa and I-news. She is an avid blogger and podcaster.
PRESS ON NJAMBI
“Important Voice” THE TIMES
“Deliciously Tart lines” The Evening Standard
“Compelling rarely heard perspective” FESTMAG
“Cutting edge confident comedian” FRINGEREVIEW
“A must see” THE SCOTSMAN
“Trail blazing” THE GUARDIAN
“Potentially major comedian” JOHN FLEMING
“Dark and refreshing’” BROADWAYBABY
“Engaging, stark and vivid” THREEWEEKS
Entry in 32 funniest dad jokes THE TELEGRAPH 2017
Entry in 60 funniest one liners THE TELEGRAPH 2017
Entry to 50 funniest jokes THE SCOTSMAN 2017
★★★★ “The most unique show at the Edinburgh Festival” THE LIST
★★★★ “Harrowing confessional comedy” FEST
★★★★ “Sharp, edgy… an excellent comedian” THE MUMBLE
Filming her Comedy Special
Njambi several comedy specials
‘Accidental Coconut’
‘African In New York – Almost Famous’ and
Breaking Black all available on Netflix of comedy platform NextUp, Amazon and Apple.
TV
BBC Two Edinburgh Nights
BBC One Sunday Live
Channel 4
Star of the BBC International Comedy celebration
London Live
STV Edinburgh Festival
ITV 1 6 clock news
Sky News
BBC 3 counties radio
OnFM Drivetime Show June 2012 presenter and guest)
Radio
Star of the BBC International Comedy celebration
BBC Radio 4 extra
BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live
BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends
BBC Radio Word service
Colourful radio London GUEST
Standup sit-down show presenter
Competitions
Winner NATYS 2019
Finalist International Delphic Comedy Oct 2017 Johannesburg
Finalist Laughing Horse 2015
2nd Place Piccadilly New Act Competition
Quarter finalist BBC Radio 2 New Comedy award
Semi-finalist Laughing horse new act 2013
Semi Finalist Funny Women Competition 2012 / 2013
Finalist Costa Coffee Comedy Challenge 2011 – performed at the Comedy Store
Quarter finalist Leicester square new act of the year 2011
Facebook www.njambimcgrathcomedy.co.uk
Twitter @Njambimcgrath