This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Comedian Nasra Yusuf's determination to pursue her education and dreams has taken her from a potential arranged marriage to entertaining world leaders on TV shows.
Speaking on the Sunday, July 12, episode of Churchill Show, Nasra shared her story of resilience, recounting how her parents were ready to marry her off to an older man in her youth.
However, Nasra insisted on continuing her education, and her parents eventually brought an elderly man to their home with the supposed dowry. Her mother tried to convince her to get married, saying, 'Nasra do this, you know I love you. Just persevere, he only has three or four years remaining. What you will get after he is gone, will be big,'
Nasra recalled that the dowry at the time was five camels, and most girls were being married off. She declined the proposal, insisting that she wanted to pursue her own dreams to be successful.
She discovered her talent while in secondary school, with her classmates being her primary audience. Her friends at Umma University encouraged her to try auditioning for Churchill Show, which led to her sending a message to Daniel 'Churchill' Ndambuki and eventually performing on the show.
Nasra's gig opened various other doors, including performing at a stand-up show in Tanzania. In October 2019, she launched Modesty Fashion Week, which was hosted at Laico Regency in Nairobi, showcasing fashion outfits from the Muslim community.
She explained that the event was a success, but also a learning experience, noting that she came to respect the audience and realized that it was tough. The event was attended by Qatar Ambassador Jabr Bin Ali Al Dosari.
During the Corona pandemic, Nasra started a YouTube show, Cook and Laugh, with her mother, which has gained over 40,000 subscribers.
