Ghanaian comedians, Jerry Ashinyo and Papayaw have made history after successfully performing Togo’s first-ever English stand-up comedy show.

The pioneering event, “Joke Ground”, took place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at La Fondation in Nyékonakpoè.

The event was organised by La Fondation in partnership with Autour d’Alphée.

Apart from the two Ghanaian comedians, Togolese comedian Alpheenomenal, was billed as well.

According to Jerry Ashinyo, this historic partnership started with an idea from their Togolese colleague.

“It was an initiative by Alpheenomenal, the Togo comedian. He ran the idea by us and we found the concept interesting and worthy of joining and so we came on board as well,” he said.

The performance brought a fresh comedy experience to Togo, a country where stand-up shows are mostly in French. By presenting English-speaking comedians on a Togolese stage, “Joke Ground”opened new avenues for cultural exchange and highlighted Ghana’s growing comedic influence beyond borders.

An enthusiastic audience turned out, many of whom spoke English and were eager for something different.

“A few Togolese people speak English. Those people were mainly our audience and they really had fun that night. It was fun comparing cultures and we even got to realize that Ghanaians and Togolese are so much alike yet so different,” Jerry added.

For the comedians, this achievement represents more than a successful show. It is a step toward widening the reach of Ghanaian comedy. 

“We are proud to be part of history. This is the first time something like this has ever happened in Togo, and we’re hoping to make it a yearly event. It’s all part of selling Ghanaian comedy to the world”, he said.

The team aims to make “Joke Ground” an annual event, continuing to grow its audience and influence.

“The plan is to make it a yearly thing. We are always available to represent Ghana on any stage. This impacts Ghanaian comedy positively because it opens us up to a very different audience, which is what we always hope for, to carry the good news of Ghana comedy to other countries,” Jerry emphasized.

Alpheenomenal, the Togolese comedian with some patrons