Cack-Handed: A Memoir

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Empire and slavery casts a long shadow over the Yasheres (actually Iyasere is the real family name) and the comic skilfully raises some Home Truths about colonialism that has so defined history. If her mum was cruel for good intentions, no such latitude can be given to the ‘Step-bastard’ who entered the Yasheres’ lives… he’s portrayed as a weak, spiteful bully who gets his kicks from imposing his power on children, and worse.

Case in point, is it any surprise people are now turning to streaming services and away from analogue TV to see a more clear idea of fair representation. A memoir written as a selection of short chapters connected to her mother's sayings, which is a clever structure. A couple of niggles I had with the book: Gina starts off with an account of the history of Benin (which I am very familiar with and I believe showcases poignantly the deeply racist and colonial attitudes of the British in the 19th century) but which is told in an overly simplified language as if the book is addressed to an audience that can barely read. Gina Yashere is daughter to Nigerian parents who arrived in the UK in the late 60s for better jobs and education. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Gina has a really easy to read style to her writing and it made reading this book a pleasure, it's rare to find a book that you look forward to picking up at any chance you get but this was one of those books.

Unfortunately it ends as she moves to the US; from the epilogue it's apparent that Gina hopes to publish a second volume at some point. I won an uncorrected proof of this book as a Firstreads giveaway and would like to note to the publisher that in trawling through the daily list of giveaways, it was the title that first caught my attention.

I used to see her on Mock, too, and she has plenty to say about the British panel game industry and its diversity (or lack of). I do think the earlier chapters about her childhood/context of the Nigerian British experience would be considered more compelling to the majority of people than the later chapters which mostly detail her rise in the global comedy scene. She explains that she thought that if she worked hard, played by the rules and proved her popularity, she would get her own show, get to make her own decisions about her programmes. She’s not shy about the bitching and backbiting she experienced on the circuit (and there’s some fun to be had guessing the comics she’s talking about) and why her ambition took her to America when she hit the glass ceiling here. Oh this does sound good, especially as the author highlights those conflicts between people of Caribbean people African heritage.The book spends a lot of time on that and I’m willing to bet because it had that much of an effect on her, more so than her sexuality which she stumbled upon a little later than some. As a first generation black Brit with parents who emigrated to the UK in the 60's from one of the then colonies, but at least 10 years older than Gina, I was really interested in her story and journey. Definitely loved it and a must read for people centering queer/Black voices and/or people who love memoirs. Despite loving stand-up comedy and having heard her name I wasn't familiar with Gina's work, except seeing her on Celebrity Come Dine with Me.