EDINBURGH 2025: Review: AYO ADENEKAN: BLACK MEDIOCRITY, Monkey Barrel
Ayo Adenekan: Black Mediocrity runs at Edfringe until 24 August
Ayo Adenekan is an Edinburgh comic making his hour-long Edfringe debut at Monkey Barrel.
Adenekan’s parents moved to Scotland in the 90s because they wanted their children to have a good education. He didn’t come out as bisexual until after he left school so “it was just the racism” he had to deal with. As a young black boy in a posh school in Edinburgh, he wanted to stand out. He figured the best way to do this would be to secure a leading role in the school nativity.
Black Mediocrity is a show about trying to stand out for what he deems the ‘right’ reasons. An incident on a lads holiday to Magaluf proved that you shouldn’t have to adjust who you are to try and fit in.
He’s a charismatic and laid back comic with a unique perspective at this festival- actually being from Edinburgh. Adenekan was given a grant by Red Bull that has made his Fringe run possible. While this is a brilliant initiative for acts, it’s pretty horrifying that homegrown talent has been priced out of this festival.
There are some great observations, and it's a consistently funny show. There’s a niggling feeling that Adenekan wanted to spend a bit more time on the more sensitive and vulnerable part of his show but Black Mediocrity makes for an excellent debut hour.
Reader Reviews
Get Broadway News on WhatsApp
Receive the latest updates, breaking news, and exclusive coverage from Broadway directly in WhatsApp.
Videos