Funny Face

Funny Face is one of Ghana's most recognisable comedians, an actor and entertainer whose slapstick style and a breakout television role made him a household name. Behind the laughter lies a career that has weathered both huge popularity and public struggle.

Early life

He was born Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng on 1 October 1981 in Jamestown, Accra. He attended school in the capital, and his gift for comedy was evident long before he found a stage for it.

Breakthrough

His major break came through the TV3 sitcom Chorkor Trotro, in which he played a driver's mate known as Chemu. The role made him enormously popular and gave him the platform that would define his early career. His 2010 appearance on the Night of a Thousand Laughs stage confirmed his standing as one of the country's leading comic acts.

Music and film

He extended his fame into music, collaborating with the late highlife star Castro on tracks that crossed comedy and pop, and appeared in films that traded on his comic persona. His self-styled nickname, Kasoa Trotro, became part of his brand.

Standing

Beloved for the characters that made Ghanaians laugh through the 2010s, Funny Face has also been candid about personal and mental-health struggles in recent years, drawing public sympathy. He remains one of the defining comedians of his generation in Ghana.